Nathan East is a ubiquitous American bass guitarist who has performed and recorded with a long list of top rock, R&B and jazz artists including Eric Clapton and had success with the jazz quartet Fourplay. His credits include more than 2,000 recordings with performers such as Phil Collins, Daft Punk, Herbie Hancock, George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Toto and Stevie Wonder. Born in Philadelphia, he grew up in San Diego, California where he played bass guitar at a local church. After studying music at the University of California in San Diego, he launched a career that led to gigs with everyone from Anita Baker to Elton John, Quincy Jones, Sting, Kenny Loggins and Manhattan Transfer.
He has been a member of Eric Clapton's touring band since the 1980s and he played on his 1992 album 'Unplugged', which won six Grammy Awards including Record of the Year and Album of the Year. He played on the version of Clapton's hit single 'Tears in Heaven' which Clapton wrote with Will Jennings for the 1991 Johnny Depp movie 'Rush'. He played bass on the 2013 Daft Punk hit 'Get Lucky' and he has toured with the rock band Toto. He released his eponymous debut solo album in 2014 with featured artists such as Clapton, Wonder, Ray Parker Jr. and Michael McDonald. It went to number two on the Billboard Jazz Albums Chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. A single titled 'Daft Funk' went to number two on the Jazz Chart in 2014 followed by '101 Eastbound' which reached number eleven and 'Moondance', featuring McDonald, which peaked at number 21. His second studio release 'The New Cool' went to number five on the Jazz Chart and his third 'Reverence' topped the chart in 2017.