"Where does my music fit in?
everywhere...after a 16 hour a day corporate schedule (or whatever you
do), after the screaming of a wonderful new born that's been up all
night (or someone elses), After you've been on I/405 in L.A., that's
when you drop "Bayside" into the CD player and go on
vacation."
That's a hint of what Bobby means by everywhere. He says "everyone
(everywhere) needs time to refresh, listen to something sweet, unwind
and just mellow out." He loves writing instrumentals most because
it gives you freedom to reflect.
Bobby blends hints of flavor from around the globe into a Smooth Jazz
mix laced with heavy hooks. Bobby says " "hooks" are
the melodic part of a song that you remember most." He continues
to attract audiences of all ages and cultures. "I love worship as
well, that's where my peace and joy comes from." Variety is key
to this songwriter, he loves to switch it up!
"Give me some keyboards, steel drums, sax, flute, koto, guitar,
chop sticks...anything I can get my hands on. I love using sounds and
cultural rhythms. Inside the box? (naaa)...that's like eating corn
flakes 24/7. Give me variety."
In short, Bobby grew up in north Omaha on 37th street and Paxton Blvd.
In elementary school he chose, as his first instrument, the trombone.
Bobby says "I got the clue real quick...that having asthma and
living in hospitals most every week-end, playing the trombone was not
going to work. You need a lot of wind."
"As a kid I lived under oxygen tents but I had my AM Radio (I
repeat AM) and loved listening to it. Bobby says "all kinds of
music was played on that (1) one station." As a teen I began
plucking out melodies on the church piano with two fingers (still
do..just kidding) until I could make a song, but playing drums was
more natural."
"I listened to musicians like Billy Cobham, Harvey Mason, Lenny
White, Steve Gadd and Herbie Hancock, and became a real time keeper."
I also listened to melody greats like Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney,
EWF & M. Jackson which helped me learn how to hook."
Bobby moved to Denver and began playing drums for raggae bands doing
covers of Bob Marley, Steel Pulse and Third World. But after a few
years of band members not showing up for practice and making $7
-$12.00 (or a chicken dinner) a concert he thought it best to raise
his family and keep his day job at the phone company. "I had a
wonderful time raising my family, the memories with my wife Kathy and
the little ones are priceless and will remain in my heart."
As "Smooth Jazz" began to pickup steam he began listening to
guys like George Benson, Earl Klugh, Lee Ritenour, Bob James and
Images. Bobby practiced writing 1-2 songs a week. About 1993 he met
his good friend and singer James VanBuren who heard his music and said
"man, you need to get out of this corner and let other people
hear your music." After releasing "Wait A Minute" Bobby
decided to pursue music full time.