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{{Short description|American bass guitarist (born 1935)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Carol Kaye
| image            =
| caption          = 
| birth_name       = Carol Smith
| alias            =
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1935|3|24}}
| birth_place      = [[Everett, Washington]], U.S.
| origin           =
| instrument       = Bass guitar, guitar
| genre            = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[Pop music|pop]]|[[jazz]]|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[Soul music|soul]]|}}
| occupation       = [[Session musician]], teacher
| years_active     = 1949–present
| label            =
| website          = {{URL|carolkaye.com}}
}}

'''Carol Kaye''' (née '''Smith''';<ref name=vulture>{{cite journal |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/04/carol-kaye-sets-record-straight.html |title=The Beach Girl Behind the Beach Boys |first=Phoebe |last=Riley |journal=New York Magazine |date=April 16, 2016 |access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref> born March 24, 1935)<ref name=pg>{{cite journal |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Forgotten_Heroes_Carol_Kaye |title=Forgotten Heroes: Carol Kaye |first=Bill |last=Murphy |journal=Premier Guitar |date=August 10, 2012 |access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref> is an American musician. She is one of the most prolific recorded [[bass guitar]]ists in rock and pop music, playing on an estimated 10,000 recordings in a career spanning over 65 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.berklee.edu/opi/2000/1018.html |title=Berklee Welcomes Legendary Studio Bassist Carol Kaye |author=Berklee College of Music |author-link=Berklee College of Music |date=October 18, 2000 |access-date=March 13, 2007 |quote=Kaye is the most recorded bassist of all time, with 10,000 sessions spanning four decades. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060910211751/http://www.berklee.edu/opi/2000/1018.html |archive-date=September 10, 2006}}</ref>

Kaye began playing guitar in her early teens; after some time as a guitar teacher, she began to perform regularly on the [[Los Angeles]] jazz and big band circuit. She started [[session musician|session work]] in 1957, and through a connection at [[Gold Star Studios]] began working for producers [[Phil Spector]] and [[Brian Wilson]]. After a bassist failed to turn up to a session in 1963, she switched to that instrument, quickly making a name for herself as one of the most in-demand session players of the 1960s, playing on numerous hits. She moved into playing on film soundtracks in the late 1960s, particularly for [[Quincy Jones]] and [[Lalo Schifrin]], and began to release a series of tutoring books such as ''How To Play The Electric Bass''. Kaye became less active towards the end of the 1970s, but has continued her career and attracted praise from other musicians.

During the peak of her years of session work, Kaye became part of a stable of Los Angeles–based musicians known as [[The Wrecking Crew (music)|the Wrecking Crew]]. She appeared in the 2008 documentary [[The Wrecking Crew (2008 film)|''The Wrecking Crew'']]. In 2025, Kaye was selected for induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in the Musical Excellence Award category,<ref name="rr25">{{cite web |title=The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation unveils electrifying class of 2025 inductees |url=https://rockhall.com/press-release/the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-foundation-unveils-electrifying-class-of-2025-inductees/ |website=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |access-date=April 28, 2025}}</ref> but she rejected the honor.

==Early life==
Kaye was born in [[Everett, Washington]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2025 |title=2 WA music greats to be inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/soundgarden-inducted-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=June 11, 2025 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> to professional musicians Clyde and Dot Smith.<ref name=bio/> Her father was a jazz [[trombonist]] who played in [[big band]]s. In 1942, he sold a piano in order to finance a move to [[Wilmington, California]].<ref name=vulture/><ref name=pg/> She later said her father was violent towards her, and she persuaded her mother to separate from him, but music was the one thing that could unite the family.<ref name=vulture/>

At age 13, Kaye received a [[steel string guitar]] from her mother.<ref name="vulture" /><ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Biography |publisher=Carol Kaye (official website) |url=https://www.carolkaye.com/www/biography/index.htm |access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> She began playing sessions in jazz clubs around [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="vulture" /> During the 1950s, Kaye played [[bebop]] [[jazz guitar]] with several groups on the Los Angeles club circuit, including Bob Neal's group, [[Jack Sheldon]] backing [[Lenny Bruce]], [[Teddy Edwards]] and [[Billy Higgins]].<ref name="bio" /> She played with the [[Henry Busse|Henry Busse Orchestra]] in the mid-1950s, and toured the US with them.{{sfn|Hartman|2012|p=38}}

==Career==
===Pop sessions===
In 1957, Kaye was playing a gig at the Beverly Cavern, [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], when producer [[Robert Blackwell|Robert "Bumps" Blackwell]] invited her to a recording session for [[Sam Cooke]]'s arrangement of "[[Summertime (George Gershwin song)|Summertime]]". She realized she could make significantly more money with session work than playing in jazz clubs, so took it up as a full-time career.<ref name=vulture/> In 1958, she played acoustic rhythm guitar on [[Ritchie Valens]]' "[[La Bamba (song)|La Bamba]]", recorded at [[Gold Star Studios]], Hollywood.<ref name=pg/> Through Gold Star, she began to work with producer Phil Spector, playing electric guitar on [[Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans]]' "[[Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah]]" and [[the Crystals]]' "[[Then He Kissed Me]]", and acoustic guitar on [[the Righteous Brothers]]' "[[You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin']]".<ref name=pg/> Along with several other musicians including drummer [[Hal Blaine]] and guitarist [[Glen Campbell]], her work with Spector attracted the attention of other record producers and she found herself in demand as a regular session player.{{sfn|Hartman|2012|p=54}}

In 1963, when a bass player failed to show for a session at [[Capitol Records]] in Hollywood, she was asked to fill in on the instrument.<ref name="Chapman2010">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NtVbEzSkFfwC&pg=PA33 |title=Interviews with the Jazz Greats{{nbsp}}... and More! |last=Chapman |first=Charles |date=October 7, 2010 |publisher=Mel Bay Publications |isbn=978-1-60974-367-3 |page=34}}</ref> She quickly discovered she preferred playing bass, and found it was a key component of a backing track and allowed her to play more inventively than the relatively simpler guitar parts she had been playing until then.<ref name=pg/> From a pragmatic viewpoint, it was easier to carry a single bass to sessions instead of swapping between three or four guitars depending on the song.{{sfn|Hartman|2012|p=143}} After bassist [[Ray Pohlman]] left studio work to become a musical director, Kaye became the most in-demand session bassist in Los Angeles.{{sfn|Hartman|2012|p=144}}

Kaye continued to play guitar on numerous other hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, including the [[12-string guitar|twelve-string electric guitar]] on several [[Sonny & Cher]] songs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guitar Hits |url=https://www.carolkaye.com/www/library/guitarhits.htm |work=Carol Kaye (official website) |access-date=September 14, 2017}}</ref> She also played twelve-string on [[Frank Zappa]]'s album ''[[Freak Out!]]''<ref name=pg/> At the time, it was unusual for women to be experienced session players; nevertheless Kaye remembered sessions being generally good-humoured and united by the music.<ref name=pg/>

Kaye was the sole regular female member of the Wrecking Crew (though she has said the collective were never known by this name), a collective of studio musicians who played on a large number of hit records from Los Angeles in the 1960s.<ref name=vulture/>{{sfn|Hartman|2012|p=5}} Throughout the decade, while at the time unknown to the public, Kaye played bass on a substantial number of records that appeared on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. According to the ''New York Times'', she played on 10,000 recording sessions.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/07/business/famous-on-the-web-this-working-mom-played-bass-for-the-best-of-them.html |title=Famous on the Web: This Working Mom Played Bass for the Best of Them |work=The New York Times |date=June 7, 2000 |access-date=August 14, 2013}}</ref> She appeared on sessions by [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Simon & Garfunkel]], [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[the Supremes]], [[the Temptations]], the [[Four Tops]] and [[the Monkees]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories |first=Scott |last=Benarde |page=23 |publisher=UPNE |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-584-65303-5}}</ref> She played electric bass on [[Nancy Sinatra]]'s "[[These Boots Are Made for Walkin']]", while [[Chuck Berghofer]] played double bass.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinatra |first=Nancy |author-link=Nancy Sinatra |title=Carol plays electric on Boots; acoustic intro is Chuck Berghofer. |url=https://x.com/NancySinatra/status/244719805578502144 |website=X}}</ref><ref name=musicradar/> She also came up with the introduction on fellow session player Glen Campbell's hit "[[Wichita Lineman]]".{{sfn|Hartman|2012|p=196}} Kaye later said that during the 1960s, she would sometimes play three or four sessions per day, and was pleased that so many of them created hit records.<ref name=musicradar>{{cite journal |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/carol-kaye-my-10-greatest-recordings-of-all-time-508956 |title=Carol Kaye: my 10 greatest recordings of all time |journal=Music Radar |date=October 26, 2011 |access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref>

Through her work with Spector, Kaye caught the attention of [[the Beach Boys]]' [[Brian Wilson]]; Wilson used her on several sessions, including the albums ''[[Beach Boys Today]]'', ''[[Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)]]'', ''[[Pet Sounds]]'' and ''[[Smile (Beach Boys album)|Smile]]''. Kaye's bass lines have been described as "the driving force" behind "[[Good Vibrations]]", a number 1 hit and the band's best selling single.<ref name=pg/> Unlike other sessions, where she was free to work out her own bass lines, Wilson always came in with a very specific idea of what she should play.<ref name=pg/> By ''Pet Sounds'', Wilson was asking musicians such as Kaye to play far more takes than typical sessions, often running over ten passes of a song, with sessions stretching well into the night.{{sfn|Hartman|2012|pp=145,154}}

===Soundtracks, tutoring and later work===
By 1969, Kaye was exhausted and had become disillusioned from doing session work; she stated that the music had "started to sound like cardboard". At the same time, many newer rock bands disapproved of using session players, preferring to play the instruments themselves. She decided to make a change so her career evolved from playing primarily pop music to performing mostly soundtrack work, as well as writing and teaching. She wrote ''How To Play The Electric Bass'', the first in a series of tutoring books and instructional video courses.<ref name=vulture/> Her soundtrack sessions from this time included playing on the themes to ''[[MASH (film)|M.A.S.H.]]'', ''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]'' and ''[[Across 110th Street]]''.<ref name="Across">{{cite web |title=Across 110th Street |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/jots.200013111/ |website=Library of Congress |access-date=March 31, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Streets of San Francisco |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/jots.200019665/ |website=Library of Congress |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Photo Gallery |url=https://www.carolkaye.com/www/library/photogallery/index.htm |website=Carol Kaye}}</ref> Kaye had already performed on a number of soundtracks and had worked closely with [[Lalo Schifrin]], playing on the theme to ''[[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|Mission: Impossible]]'' and the soundtrack for ''[[Bullitt]]''.<ref name=pg/> She regularly collaborated with [[Quincy Jones]], later saying that he "wrote some of the most beautiful themes I've ever heard in my life".<ref name=pg/> Kaye was also a part of Jones' orchestra at the [[43rd Academy Awards]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Newcomb |first1=Horace |title=Encyclopedia of Television |date=1997 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1884964268 |pages=1231 |url=}}</ref>

In the early 1970s, she toured with [[Joe Pass]] and [[Hampton Hawes]], and continued to do sessions.<ref name=pg/> In 1973, she played on [[Barbra Streisand]]'s single "[[The Way We Were (song)|The Way We Were]]", which was cut live, and was admonished by producer [[Marvin Hamlisch]] for improvising bass lines.<ref name=musicradar/> In 1976, she was involved in a car accident, and semi-retired from music. She continued to play sporadically, appearing on [[J. J. Cale]]'s 1981 album ''[[Shades (J. J. Cale album)|Shades]]''.<ref name=pg/>

In 1994, Kaye underwent corrective surgery to fix injuries stemming from the accident; she resumed playing and recording.<ref name=pg/> She collaborated with Fender to produce a lighter version of the Precision Bass that reduced strain on her back and made it more comfortable to play.{{sfn|Steward|Garratt|1984|p=115}} In 1997, she collaborated with Brian Wilson again, playing on his daughters' album, ''[[The Wilsons (album)|The Wilsons]]''; in 2006, [[Frank Black]] asked her to play on his album ''[[Fast Man Raider Man]]'' alongside fellow session stalwart, drummer [[Jim Keltner]].<ref name=pg/> She was featured in the 2008 film ''[[The Wrecking Crew (2008 film)|The Wrecking Crew]]'' along with a cast of other studio musicians. In one interview segment, she said that she believed at the peak of her session activity she was making more money than the US president.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/film-review-the-wrecking-crew-1201451691/ |title=Film Review: 'The Wrecking Crew' |first=Joe |last=Leydon |work=Variety |date=March 12, 2015 |access-date=August 11, 2018}}</ref>

==Style and equipment==
Kaye's main instrument during the 1960s was the [[Fender Precision Bass]]. She also used the [[Danelectro]] bass on occasion. During the 1970s, she sometimes used the [[Gibson Ripper]] Bass, and in the 21st century she has used an [[Ibanez]] SRX700 bass.<ref name=bio/><ref name=pg/> She uses Thomastik-Infeld JF344 [[String (music)#Flatwound|flatwound]] strings with a [[Action (music)#Instruments plucked by hand|high action]] and preferred to use guitar amplifiers in the studio when playing bass, including the [[Fender Super Reverb]] and the [[Versatone]] Pan-O-Flex.<ref name=pg/> Kaye primarily uses a pick, or [[plectrum]], on both guitar and bass, rather than plucking the strings with her fingers.{{sfn|Steward|Garratt|1984|p=115}} She also typically [[Mute (music)|muted]] her bass using a piece of [[felt]] on top of the strings in front of the bridge, thus reducing unwanted [[overtone]]s and undertones. Later she said, "for 25 cents, you could get the best sound in town".<ref name=pg/>

Kaye preferred to play melodic and syncopated lines on the bass, rather than simply covering a straightforward part. In the studio, she particularly liked to use the upper register on her bass, while a stand-up [[double bass]] would be used to cover the low end.<ref name=pg/>

==Legacy==
Kaye has achieved critical acclaim as one of the best session bassists of all time. Michael Molenda, writing in ''[[Bass Player (magazine)|Bass Player]]'' magazine, said that Kaye could listen to other musicians and instantly work out a memorable bass line that would fit with the song, such as her additions to [[Sonny & Cher]]'s "[[The Beat Goes On (Sonny & Cher song)|The Beat Goes On]]". [[Paul McCartney]] has said that his bass playing on [[the Beatles]]' ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' was inspired by her work on ''Pet Sounds''.<ref name=vulture/> Alison Richter, writing in ''[[Bass Guitar (magazine)|Bass Guitar]]'' magazine, has called Kaye the "First Lady" of bass playing, adding "her style and influence are in your musical DNA."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Richter |first1=Alison |title=The First Lady: Carol Kaye |journal=Bass Guitar Magazine |date=December 7, 2015 |url=http://www.bassguitarmagazine.com/interviews/the-first-lady-carol-kaye/ |access-date=March 7, 2018}}</ref>

Kaye's solo bass line in Spector's production of "[[River Deep – Mountain High|River Deep, Mountain High]]", was a key part to the song's "Wall of Sound" production. The recording is now in the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://tonedeaf.com.au/6-famous-musicians-youve-heard-but-never-heard-of/ |title=6 Famous Musicians You've Never Heard Of |journal=Tone Deaf |date=May 21, 2014 |access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> Quincy Jones said in his 2001 autobiography ''Q'' that "...{{nbsp}}women like{{nbsp}}... Fender bass player Carol Kaye{{nbsp}}... could do anything and leave men in the dust."<ref>{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Quincy |title=Q: the autobiography of Quincy Jones |publisher=Doubleday |year=2001 |isbn=0-385-48896-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/qautobiographyof00jone/page/126 126] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/qautobiographyof00jone/page/126}}</ref> Brian Wilson has said that Kaye's playing on the "[[Good Vibrations]]" sessions was a key part of the arrangement he wanted. "Carol played bass with a pick that clicked real good. It worked out really well. It gave it a hard sound."<ref name="uncut">{{cite web |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/the-making-of-the-beach-boys-good-vibrations-34867#X6KQ8SGHMYfolZZ2.99 |title=The Making Of{{nbsp}}... The Beach Boys Good Vibrations |last=Pinnock |first=Tom |date=June 8, 2012 |website=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |publisher=[[Time Inc. UK]] |access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> [[Dr. John]] has said that Kaye "is a sweetheart as well as a kick-ass bass player".<ref name=bio/>

Despite being admired as one of the studio greats, Kaye never expected to be well-remembered. At the time of the sessions, most of the players thought pop music would not last longer than ten years, and she is surprised that people still listen to tracks on which she played.<ref name=vulture/> Although the Amazon hit series ''[[The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel]]'' paid homage to Kaye and her career with the character of Carole Keen, introduced in season three and played by [[Liza Weil]], Kaye described the character as "having nothing to do with me or my history. They took a few things out of my book and created a character that's not even me at all."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/gilmore-girls-actress-unrecognizable-marvelous-mrs-maisel-t169465 |title='Gilmore Girls' actress is unrecognizable in 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' |website=TODAY.com |date=December 9, 2019 |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kranc |first=Lauren |date=December 12, 2019 |title=The Bassist in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Is Inspired By the Revolutionary Real-Life Musician Carol Kaye |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a30199723/carole-keen-marvelous-mrs-maisel-bassist-character-real-carol-kaye/ |magazine=Esquire |location=New York, NY |access-date=December 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Bailey-Millado |first=Rob |date=January 2, 2020 |title=Bass legend Carol Kaye blasts 'Mrs. Maisel' homage as 'slander' |url=https://www.nypost.com/2020/01/02/bass-legend-carol-kaye-blasts-mrs-maisel-homage-as-slander/ |magazine=NY Post |location=New York, NY |access-date=January 2, 2020}}</ref> In 2020, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine ranked Kaye number five in its list of the 50 greatest bassists of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-1003022/ |title=The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time |first=Jonathan |last=Bernstein |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=July 1, 2020 |access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>

Kaye was selected for induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in the musical excellence category,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grein |first1=Paul |title=Outkast, The White Stripes, Soundgarden, Chubby Checker & More to Join 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class: Full List |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-2025-class-full-list-outkast-1235956268/ |website=Billboard |access-date=April 28, 2025 |date=April 28, 2025}}</ref> but refused the honor and said she would not attend the ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madarang |first=Charisma |date=June 18, 2025 |title=Carol Kaye Declines Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/carol-kaye-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-declines-1235367885/ |access-date=July 14, 2025 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Torregiani |first=Isabella |date=June 19, 2025 |title=Legendary '60s Musician Refuses Rock Hall Honor Over 'Insulting' Label |url=https://parade.com/news/legendary-60s-musician-refuses-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-honor-over-insulting-label |access-date=July 14, 2025 |website=Parade |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kaye was raised a [[Baptist]]. She [[Conversion to Judaism|converted to Judaism]] in the early 1960s, and had a [[Bar and bat mitzvah|Bat Mitzvah]] ceremony.{{sfn|Hartman|2012|p=143}}<ref>[https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Stars_of_David/XI4-VnSrEcAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%221960,+Carol+Kaye,+already+a+sought-after+studio+musician+who+had+built+her+industry%22&pg=PA24&printsec=frontcover]</ref> She has been married three times and has two living children.{{sfn|Hartman|2012|pp=38,143}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EyUEAAAAMBAJ&q=spiders+webb+billboard&pg=PT69 |title=Top Album Picks |magazine=Billboard |page=70 |date=October 30, 1976 |access-date=August 16, 2018}}</ref>

At age 13, Kaye took guitar lessons from Horace Hatchett (1909–1985), an esteemed instructor and graduate of the [[Eastman School of Music]] who eventually set her up with gigs playing bebop in L.A. nightclubs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hopper |first1=Jessica |title=Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye |url=https://www.laweekly.com/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/ |website=LaWeekly |date=February 18, 2010}}</ref> At age 16, Kaye gave birth to their child.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fakeshow Podcast – Ep 511 Carol Kaye |url=https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/thefakeshow/fakeshow-ep-511-carol-kaye-iHIhxdbDUmy/ |website=Listennotes |date=March 28, 2022}}</ref>

Two years later, she married musician Al Kaye and they had one son together. However, Al Kaye, 22 years her senior, had a drinking problem and they would divorce soon after.<ref name="vulture" /> Kaye's second husband did not approve of her job's late hours, and he did not like it when she was playing with musicians.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Frazier |first1=Bryan |title=Ep. 51: Carol Kaye- The Comprehensive Interview Pt. 1 |url=https://www.journeytothestage.com/ep-51-carol-kaye-the-comprehensive-interview-pt-1/ |website=Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier |access-date=February 20, 2024}}</ref> They had one daughter together. Kaye divorced him, got a live-in nanny, and went back to working again.<ref name="vulture" /> Kaye's third husband was jazz drummer and session musician [[Spider Webb (jazz drummer)|Spider Webb]]. They cofounded a jazz/funk group Spiders Webb, which went on to record the album ''I Don't Know What's on Your Mind'', for [[Fantasy Records]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EyUEAAAAMBAJ&q=spiders+webb+billboard&pg=PT69 |title=Top Album Picks |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=70 |date=October 30, 1976 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Their marriage was brief, and Kaye recalled thinking she was no good with men. Instead, she planned to stay single for the rest of her life, relying only on music, which had never disappointed her.<ref name="z303">{{cite web |last1=Mehr |first1=Bob |last2=Weinberg |first2=Elizabeth |date=September 24, 2025 |title=Carol Kaye Is Being Honored by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She Doesn't Care. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/arts/music/carol-kaye-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame.html |access-date=September 28, 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

==Selected discography==
{{Main|Carol Kaye discography}}

==Published works==
* {{cite book |last=Kaye |first=Carol |title=Studio Musician |date=2016 |publisher=Carol Kaye LLC |isbn=978-0-9858748-3-4}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Hartman |first=Kent |author-link=Kent Hartman |title=The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret |publisher=St. Martin's Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-312-61974-9 |url-access=limited |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780312619749/ |oclc=1330867506}}
* {{cite book |last1=Steward |first1=Sue |last2=Garratt |first2=Sheryl |title=Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: True Life Stories of Women in Pop |publisher=South End Press |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-896-08240-3 |oclc=566000235 |url=https://archive.org/details/signedsealeddeli0000stew |url-access=registration |via=Internet Archive}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* [https://www.carolkaye.com/ Official Carol Kaye website], including pictures and online forums
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170822220819/http://www.centralfm.com/index.php/celebrity-interviews/carol-kaye.html Carol Kaye on Central FM, Spain (snippet)], Kaye talks about her Motown experiences with Tony Keys on Central FM Radio in Spain
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/carol-kaye Carol Kaye Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] (February 2, 2002)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZcgi7E4E1w Carol Kaye about her famous guitar licks for Sam Cooke, Beach Boys and more] – Top 2000 a gogo, 2009

{{2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|state=collapsed}}
{{The Wrecking Crew|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaye, Carol}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American rock bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American session musicians]]
[[Category:American women music educators]]
[[Category:People from Everett, Washington]]
[[Category:The Wrecking Crew (music) members]]
[[Category:American women bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Crest Records artists]]
[[Category:20th-century American bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Washington (state)]]
[[Category:People from Wilmington, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Converts to Judaism from Baptist denominations]]
[[Category:Jewish American rock musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American women guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American women guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]