Answer
Before Jaco Pastorius's induction in 1988, seven bassists had already been enshrined in the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame. These included pioneering figures like Jimmy Blanton, Oscar Pettiford, and Ray Brown, who helped establish the bass as a vital melodic and rhythmic force in jazz. Their innovations and virtuosity paved the way for Pastorius's own groundbreaking contributions to the instrument.