I will also say Bootsy Collins, and Verdine White and I will also add........
Larry Graham (the man that invented thumpnig/slapping and plucking)
Louis Johnson (Brothers Johnson)
Bernard Edwards (Chic)
Marcus Miller (Luther Vandross, Miles Davis, Daivid Sanborn, The Jamaica Boys, and producer)
James Jamerson (Motown Legend)
The guy that played for Cameo (???)
The guy that played for Slave (Mark Adams???)
Pino Palladino ( a lot of young cats are hiring this man to play for them today)
Nathan Watts (Stevie Wonder)
Brown Mark (Prince)
Levi Searcer, Jr. (Prince, Madhouse)
Leon Sylvers III (producer)
Randy Jackson (the American Idol judge. Honorable Mention album "All American Girls" by Sister Sledge. He clowned on that record)
Terry Lewis (The Time. Simple, yet classic bass solos)
Chuckii Booker (producer, sideman))
Derek "DOA" Allen (producer, sideman)
Carol Kaye (She played on a lot of Motown stuff back in the day. She also played for TV themes. Most notably, the theme from "Hawaii Five-O" I think she's funky. She's a great player, and still plays to this day. Very old school)
That's all I can think of for now.