Happy Birthday Rob Wasserman: Daughter Sara Wasserman Remembers Her Talented Father

Bassist Rob Wasserman died unexpectedly last year at the age of 64. Today, on what would have been his birthday, the musician’s daughter Sara Wasserman shared the following memories of her talented father.

Today I am celebrating and honoring what would have been the 65th birthday of my dad.

He was taken from us suddenly and unexpectedly last June 29th, and I think a big part of me is still in shock and still waiting for him to call.

Most of you know my dad as a great bassist who could walk on stage by himself and make it sound like there was an entire band performing while on just one instrument. To me he was the kindest, most gentle, caring and humble person I have ever known. He did not have a mean bone in his body.

After everyone in the audience would be in awe after his bass solo, he would walk off stage and ask me if he sounded OK. He truly did not know his own genius and uniqueness. His music was purely who he was. To celebrate his 50th birthday, I surprised him on stage at a RatDog show in Seattle with a big cake and the audience sang to him — he turned bright red, as he was very shy.

I always pictured that on his big 65th, 70th, 80th birthdays I would do something similar — birthdays were and are sacred in our family.

As I kid, I spent many birthdays on the road with my dad, one of which was my 13th birthday on tour in Europe with Lou Reed. I remember the dressing rooms shaking from the power of my dad’s bass at each summer festival he played with Lou. My birthday consisted of my dad surprising me on the tour bus with a chocolate cake and Lou singing “Happy Birthday.” That was normal to me as a child. Now as an adult, I know how incredibly lucky I was to have had a childhood surrounded by such amazing artists and most importantly, such amazing parents.

When I began singing, my dad pushed me to also start performing, so I began by sitting-in with Bobby and the early RatDog band, which included the legendary Johnny Johnson. I was always so nervous that I would practically be in tears before going on stage, but the moment I would look back at my dad, up there next to me, I knew all would be OK. He made me feel that way my entire life, and on stage, he made not only me, but the audience and his band members feel that way as well.

I used to fall asleep as a young child listening to him practice in his studio that was right above my bedroom. He wrote most of his music there, including the song he named after me, “Sara’s Rainbow Song,” which was included on his album Solo. As I still process the fact that I’m celebrating my dad’s birthday without him, and the fact that he will miss so much of my life, I can say that even though I only had him for a short period of time, I would still rather have him than anyone else.

His life was cut so short and he was taken from his family, friends, and the world who loved him. But, when you listen to his music and the great contributions he left on this earth, and everything he taught other musicians, I can only be so proud and grateful.

My job is to make sure that we keep celebrating his music and it’s pure artistry and integrity, the one thing my dad never sacrificed. His music and spirit will always be.

Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you forever.