He is best known for his own work on the trilogy of albums, Solo, Duets, and Trios.[5][6][7]
Life and career
Wasserman started playing violin, and graduated to the bass after his teenage years. He studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he studied composing with John Adams and double bass with San Francisco Symphony bassists.[5]
Duets was nominated for three Grammy Awards. Bobby McFerrin won for "Brothers", which was performed with Wasserman. Wasserman also won Holland's Edison Award for Record of the Year.
His 2000 album, Space Island, incorporated more contemporary musical elements. RatDog, which he co-founded with Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead, occupied much of his time. He toured extensively with Lou Reed.
Wasserman was a judge for the 6th–10th annual Independent Music Awards.[8]
Wasserman died of cancer on June 29, 2016, at age 64.[9] He was remembered by KQED as "the Grammy-winning bassist whose playing accompanied everyone from Van Morrison to Willie Dixon."[10] He was interred in Salem Memorial Park and Garden in Colma, California.[11]