toby myers, born jeffrey g. myers on september 26, 1949, is an american bass player best known for recording and touring with john cougar mellencamp as the bass guitarist. myers was raised in the indianapolis, indiana area where he attended art school at the john herron school of art from 1968 to 1971. he developed an interest in music and began playing bass in a music shop next to the laundromat where his mother did the family's laundry. myers began playing in bands in high school.