Leonard “Hub” Hubbard was the bassist for the acclaimed hip-hop band the Roots from 1992 to 2007.
- Died: December 16, 2021 (Who else died on December 16?)
- Details of death: Died at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania of multiple myeloma at the age of 62.
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Musical career
Hubbard joined the Roots in the band’s early days, when they were still called the Square Roots and hadn’t yet released their first album. He had a background in jazz and classical music, having studied at Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School and at Carnegie Mellon University. That fit in well with the Roots, who take an unusual approach to their hip-hop, mixing in jazz influences as they play real instruments in concert and on their recordings. As he played in the Roots, Hubbard became known for his bass solos as well as for the trademark chew stick of licorice root that was always in his mouth. In 2007, Hubbard was named one of the Settlement 100 as the Settlement Music School celebrated notable alumni for its 100th anniversary.
Hubbard on his first gig with the Roots
“They didn’t know me from Adam. Ahmir told me to take a solo, and when he saw that I was a virtuoso, he was like ‘Oh, man, keep playing, keep playing.’” —from a 2007 interview for the Philadelphia Inquirer
Tributes to Leonard “Hub” Hubbard
Full obituary: The Philadelphia Inquirer
