Carol Kaye, a legendary session bassist known for her work with the Beach Boys and other top acts of the 1960s and '70s, has turned down her invitation to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction this year, where she was set to receive the Musical Excellence Award. Kaye, 90, announced her decision on Facebook, explaining that the honor doesn't align with what she sees as the true contributions of studio musicians during the era's recording boom, Rolling Stone reports. She will still be inducted into the Hall of Fame in absentia, Variety reports.
Kaye, who was part of the group of session musicians often called the Wrecking Crew, objected to both the award and the group's nickname. She described the "Wrecking Crew" label as inaccurate and "insulting," emphasizing that studio work in Hollywood was always a team effort involving hundreds of musicians, not a handful of stars. While featured in the 2008 documentary The Wrecking Crew, Kaye says the group never used that name—crediting its creation to drummer Hal Blaine.
Kaye recounted her accidental start in session work and how she switched to bass in 1963, drawing on her jazz background to create memorable lines for rock and pop hits. She stressed that jazz musicians like herself were frequently called in for recording sessions, and that the collaborative spirit of the time deserves more accurate recognition. "I refuse to be part of a process that is something else rather than what I believe in," she wrote. Other 2025 inductees include Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden, and the White Stripes. The ceremony will be held Nov. 8 in Los Angeles. (This content was created with the help of AI. Read our AI policy.)
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