Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an American bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He has been the bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since the group's formation in 1988 and a member of the band SMV with two other bassists, Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller. From 2017 to 2019, he recorded as the bassist for the metal band Nitro.
He owns Vix Records, which releases his albums. He wrote the novel The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music. He later released the book's sequel, The Spirit of Music: The Lesson Continues, on February 2, 2021.
Wooten is the recipient of five Grammy Awards. He won the Bass Player of the Year award from Bass Player magazine three times and is the first person to win the award more than once. In 2011, he was ranked No. 10 in the Top 10 Bassists of All Time by readers of Rolling Stone magazine.
In 2018–2019, Wooten was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called focal dystonia in his hands and upper body, which had been limiting his ability to play in previous years, but has since abated somewhat.
Tap on any album for track list.
Victor Wooten and The Wooten Brothers bring their unmistakable chemistry and deep family groove to the Montreal International Jazz Festival in this live clip.
Victor Wooten and The Wooten Brothers return to the road this fall for a lengthy U.S. run, with dates spanning September through December 2026.
The International Society of Bassists is expanding its mission to include electric bass, with Steve Bailey and Victor Wooten joining the effort.
Victor Wooten’s personal gear is headed to Reverb, and Jody and Marc got to play through some serious pieces of bass history.
Victor Wooten gave Reverb a tour of his bass collection, from his first Univox and beloved Fodera basses to Stanley Clarke’s “School Days” Alembic.
