He is a bass guitarist born in Bridgeport, Connecticut who started outplaying drums but moved to the bass guitar when he was 12 years old. He began working as a professional musician when he was 17 years old and played with Little Anthony and the Imperials. He studied at Berklee College of Music, graduating in 1975 and began to teach while also playing in a band with the drummer Steve Smith, who was also a student there.
During the 1970s he became a member of Blood, Sweat and Tears in 1977 and then relocated to Los Angeles the following year so he could tour with Larry Carlton. He met up with Mike Post and from 1979 he became a touring and studio musician and went on to work with countless artists. So much so that he can be heard on many commercials and jingles, more than 500 movie soundtracks, at the very least 600 albums and on numerous Grammy nominated albums and platinum records.
A few of the artists he has worked with over the years include Aerosmith, Air Supply, Alessi Brothers, Elmer Bernstein, Clint Black, Michael Bolton, Debby Boone, Peabo Bryson, Solomon Burke, Bobby Caldwell, Captain & Tenille, Irene Cara, Peter Cetera, Champaign, Joe Cocker, Natalie Cole, Michael Crawford, Steve Cropper, Celine Dion, The Emotions, Agnetha Faltskog, John Fogerty, Crystal Gayle, Jay Gruska, Hanson, Faith Hill, Russell Hitchcock, Whitney Houston, Julio Iglesias, Rickie Lee Jones, Earl Klugh, Al Kooper, Patti LaBelle, Queen Latifah, Hubert Laws, Nils Lofgren, Steve Lukather, Marilyn McCoo, Arnold McCuller, Maureen McGovern, Mary MacGregor, Bette Midler, Luis Miguel, Liza Minnelli, Ennio Morricone, Milton Nascimento, Willie Nelson, Robbie Nevil, Juice Newton, Eddie Palmieri, The Pointer Sisters, Bonnie Raitt, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Helen Reddy, Lee Ritenour, Brenda Russell, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tom Scott, Diane Schuur, Lisa Stansfield, Al B. Sure, Russ Taff, The Temptations, Tanya Tucker, Was (Not Was), Vanessa Williams, Carl Wilson and Wilson Phillips.
Just a small selection of the recordings he has performed on include Keep Your Eye on Me by Herb Alpert, Amigos by Paul Anka, Love Is Gonna Getcha by Patti Austin, Isn’t She Great by Burt Bacharach, The Complete Gold Castle Masters by Joan Baez, Rapture by Anita Baker, Can You Feel It by Ray Barretto, Legendary Performer by Shirley Bassey, Masterpieces: Best of the GRP Years by David Benoit, The George Benson Collection by George Benson, The Legacy by Glen Campbell, A Touch of Blue by David Cassidy, Friendship by Ray Charles, Heart of Stone by Cher, Plays Well With Others by Phil Collins, Forgiven not Forgotten by The Corrs, Windsong by Randy Crawford, Heartlight by Neil Diamond, I’m the One by Roberta Flack, The Christmas Album by Dave Foster, Tonight! by The Four Tops, So Damn Happy by Aretha Franklin, Soul Searchin’ by Glenn Frey, Indian Summer by Go West, Actual Miles: Henley’s Greatest Hits by Don Henley, Masterpiece by The Isley Brothers, Breakin’ Away by Al Jarreau, The Bridge by Billy Joel, Duets by Elton John, Back on the Block by Quincy Jones, King of the Blues by B.B. King, All Our Love by Gladys Knight & the Pips, Bodies and Souls by The Manhattan Transfer, Manilow by Barry Manilow, Me Amaras by Ricky Martin, Right from the Heart by Johnny Mathis, Sweet Freedom: The Best of… by Michael McDonald, Merciless by Stephanie Mills, The Rumour by Olivia Newton John, Whisper a Prayer by Mica Paris, Once Upon a Christmas by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, Workin’ It Back by Teddy Pendergrass, Inamorata by Poco, Dancing on the Ceiling by Lionel Richie, Smoke Signals by Smokey Robinson, Symphonic Boleros by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Signature by Patrice Rushen, Some Change by Boz Scaggs, L.A. Is My Lady by Frank Sinatra, Time Takes Time by Ringo Starr, Vagabond Heart by Rod Stewart,Wet by Barbra Streisand, Curtis Stigers by Curtis Stigers, Oure Country by George Strait, Bad Girls by Donna Summer, New Directions by Tavares, Terence Trent D’Arby’s Symphony or Damn by Terence Trent D’Arby, Streetfighter by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Luther Vandross by Luther Vandross, Finder of Lost Loves by Dionne Warwick and As Good As It Gets by Deniece Williams along with countless compilations and collections.
Glen Campbell recordings
Hollywood Smiles (Larry Weiss)
Capitol Records 1A 006 86273
Sources:
- https://www.berklee.edu/people/neil-stubenhaus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Stubenhaus
- https://www.sessiondays.com/2015/08/neil-stubenhaus/
- https://www.facebook.com/NStubenhausbass/
- https://bassmyfever.weebly.com/interview-with-neil-stubenhaus.html
- https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2018/02/23/bass-players-to-know-neil-stubenhaus/
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0835946/?ref_=nmbio_ov
- https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/neil_stubenhaus/credits/
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/neil-stubenhaus-mn0000379683#credits
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/254956-Neil-Stubenhaus