The Who Codexery

Jon Button

The bassist who replaced Pino Palladino on tour with The Who.

Jon Button

via Wikipedia: Jon Button · see source

Jon Button (born February 10, 1971) is an American bass player based in Los Angeles, California. He has played on commercial, film and television scores and toured with a number of well-known artists. He plays both electric and upright string bass. Button was born into a musical family in Fairbanks, Alaska, the youngest of five siblings. He started learning piano at age four, and bass at seven. During his teen years, he played in jazz and blues bands and with local symphonies and orchestras. In high school, Button won music scholarships and later attended the University of North Texas' music program. He moved to Los Angeles in 1994 and found work playing on film and television scores, including the Emmy Award winning Batman Beyond. He has played on a number of recordings, including Borrowed Heaven by the Corrs and Tour Fijación Oral by Shakira. He has performed live and toured with such well-known artists as Michelle Branch, Rachael Yamagata, Mandy Moore, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, Roger Daltrey and The Who. Button also played at the musical benefit Live 8 and played upright bass with The Who during an acoustic concert associated with The Who's Super Bowl performance. In 2009, Button toured as bassist in Roger Daltrey's band for the Use It or Lose It tour. The band also opened for Eric Clapton during several dates in 2010, and scheduled more tour dates for 2012. He is currently playing on tour with The Who to replace Pino Palladino. Button has been married to actress Terryn Westbrook since 2011. They have one child.

Quick Facts

Born
10 February 1971
Birthplace
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Instrument
  • Bass
  • upright bass
  • guitar
Genre
  • Rock
  • jazz
  • blues
Occupation
Musician
Associated acts
  • Roger Daltrey
  • The Who
  • The Corrs
  • Sheryl Crow
  • Shakira

Lore & Background

Jon Button's path to The Who began long before he stepped into their touring lineup. Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, into a musical family, he was the youngest of five siblings and started piano at four, switching to bass at seven. By his teens, he was already playing in jazz and blues bands and with local symphonies and orchestras. After winning music scholarships in high school, he attended the University of North Texas' music program. Moving to Los Angeles in 1994, Button found work on film and television scores, including the Emmy Award winning Batman Beyond. His recording credits include Borrowed Heaven by the Corrs and Tour Fijación Oral by Shakira. He has performed live and toured with Michelle Branch, Rachael Yamagata, Mandy Moore, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, Roger Daltrey, and The Who. A notable early moment with The Who came when he played upright bass during an acoustic concert associated with the band's Super Bowl performance. In 2009, he toured as bassist in Roger Daltrey's band for the Use It or Lose It tour, and that band opened for Eric Clapton during several dates in 2010, with more tour dates scheduled for 2012. Button is currently playing on tour with The Who, having replaced Pino Palladino.

Reader's Guide

Instrument and Role: Jon Button plays both electric and upright string bass. In The Who's touring lineup, he replaced Pino Palladino, taking over the low-end foundation. His role is to lock in with the drums and provide the harmonic and rhythmic bedrock for the band's classic catalog. He is not a lead instrument but the structural spine of the rhythm section. Key Musical Contributions: Button's discography shows his range: from the Emmy Award winning Batman Beyond soundtrack (1999) to Borrowed Heaven by The Corrs (2004) and Tour Fijación Oral by Shakira (2007). He has played on over a dozen albums, including The Who's Tommy Orchestral with Roger Daltrey (2019) and The Who with Orchestra Live at Wembley (2023). His live work includes the musical benefit Live 8 and the Use It or Lose It tour with Roger Daltrey in 2009, which opened for Eric Clapton in 2010. He is a professional who moves between genres and roles, from film scores to arena tours. What Made Him Irreplaceable: Button's ability to play both electric and upright bass, his experience across commercial, film, and television scores, and his history with Roger Daltrey made him the natural choice to replace Pino Palladino on tour with The Who. His track record of playing with well-known artists and on major recordings shows he can handle the demands of one of rock's most iconic rhythm sections.

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