Carol Kaye American musician Also known as: Carol Smith Written by Kara Rogers Kara Rogers is the senior editor of biomedical sciences at Encyclopædia Britannica, where she oversees a range of content from medicine and genetics to microorganisms. She joined Britannica in 2006 and... Kara Rogers Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 3, 2026 •History Carol Kaye (born March 24, 1935, Everett, Washington, U.S.) is an American bassist, considered one of the most productive and impactful studio musicians in the history of popular music. As a session bassist working with a group of elite studio musicians based in Los Angeles, she contributed to an estimated 10,000 recordings. Her sense of rhythm and harmony on the bass guitar helped shape the sound of mid-20th-century rock, pop, jazz, and film music. Carol...

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