Foley was born inColumbus, Ohio. Growing up he listened toSly and the Family Stone, and after his mother bought him a bass (at age 12) he started playing with local bands. In 1987, he had a phone conversation withMarcus Miller, then Miles Davis’s bass player, and afterward sent him a tape of his music. Weeks later he got a call from Davis, who’d heard the tape and asked Foley to send him a copy: Miles Davis was looking for a guitarist, but at that time Foley had been working on getting his bass to sound like a guitar. By May 1987 Foley was touring with Davis, and played with him until the fall of 1991.
In 1993 he played a lead bass solo onMint Condition’s R&B Top 40 hit “So Fine” and the interlude track “Gumbo” from their albumFrom the Mint Factory.
In 1993, during his time atMotown, Foley released7 Years Ago…Directions in Smart-Alec Music. The album included “If It’s Positive”.
TheCité de la Musiqueshowed a Miles Davis exhibition from October 16, 2009, to January 17, 2010, that included Foley’s “lead bass”.
Foley has also toured and recorded with funk legend George Clinton and engineered for Prince.
