LAURIE Silvera is one of those journeymen musicians often seen at recording studios or on stage backing artists, but fans rarely know their names.

The dreadlocked bassist has been on the live and recording circuit for over 40 years, working with artistes like Bunny Wailer, Barrington Levy and Sugar Minott.

SILVERA… to release his debut album in early 2013

Now, he is stepping out front with Bassics, his debut album which he hopes to release in early 2013.

“Doing a lot of stuff for producers an’ artists is one thing but to do something for yourself is even greater. It means a whole heap,” he said.

Silvera states that he has recorded over 20 songs to date, but is uncertain how many will make Bassics’ final cut.

He is certain that covers of Stevie Wonder’s Overjoyed and Dreamland, a song featuring famed bass player Jaco Pastorius, will be included.

For most of his career, Silvera has been part of tours where artists promote new albums. Bassics, he points out, will be marketed through an entirely different medium.

“I plan to do most of the promotion on the Internet, it’s the way to go,” he said. “Two of the songs are already available on Facebook.”

Bassics will also be available on compact disc.

The self-taught Silvera was born in Kingston, but moved to Toronto, Canada, in the early 1970s where he was a founding member of the Ishan People band.

The seven-piece unit included (at different times) singers Mikey Murray, formerly of the In Crowd, and Johnny Osbourne.

Ishan People recorded two albums, but by 1979 Silvera was back in Jamaica, working mainly with mainly upcoming acts out of Minott’s Youth Promotions.

From 1983 to 1989, he lived in England where he led the Steady Rhythm band which backed artists like Levy, who had relocated to that country after a successful run in Jamaica.

Until last year, Silvera had been a 21-year member of Wailer’s band. Starting February, he and his Danjah band — which includes drummer Aubry Manning, keyboardists Sekoni Sullivan and Granville Morgan, guitarist Donovan Francis and organist/percussionist Winston Atkinson —will start a six-week tour of the United States with singer Admiral Tibet.