John Symon Asher Bruce, known as Jack Bruce, was born on May 14, 1943, in Bishopbriggs, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was a pioneering musician renowned for his work as the bassist and lead vocalist of the legendary rock band Cream. Bruce's early life was marked by frequent relocations due to his parents' musical careers, leading him to attend 14 different schools. He developed a passion for music early on, playing jazz bass in his teens and earning a scholarship to study cello and musical composition at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Bruce's professional career began in the early 1960s when he joined Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, a pivotal band in London's burgeoning blues scene. He later played with the Graham Bond Organisation, where he met Ginger Baker, and briefly with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, where he encountered Eric Clapton. In 1966, Bruce, Clapton, and Baker formed Cream, a band that would become one of the most influential rock groups of all time. Bruce co-wrote many of Cream's iconic songs, including "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room," and "I Feel Free," often collaborating with poet Pete Brown.

After Cream disbanded in 1968, Bruce embarked on a solo career and continued to collaborate with various artists and bands, including West, Bruce and Laing, The Tony Williams Lifetime, and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. His work spanned genres such as rock, blues rock, and jazz rock, showcasing his versatility as a musician.

Bruce was widely regarded as one of the greatest bassists in rock history, with Rolling Stone magazine readers ranking him eighth on their list of "10 Greatest Bassists of All Time." He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 as a member of Cream.

Jack Bruce passed away on October 25, 2014, in Sudbury, Suffolk, England, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians worldwide.