One of hard rock's most respected bassists remains Tim Bogert, due to his influential work with such notable late-'60s/early-'70s outfits as Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, and Beck, Bogert & Appice. Born on August 27, 1944, in New York City, Bogert developed an interest in music at an early age. After relocating to New Jersey, he played sax, but the instrument became expendable in rock groups once surf music and the British Invasion hit in the early '60s. Switching to bass, forming a well-revered rhythm section with drummer Carmine Appice, and studio work for everyone from Rod Stewart to Jan Akkerman took Bogert up to the '80s and his membership in Bobby & the Midnites, the side project of the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir. ~ Greg Prato