BBG
Drums / Spoons
Bobby G was born in
Brooklyn NY in 1953, by the age of 7 he remembers listen to his parents
albums which included big band and jazz. About the same time he can
remember going to his grandfather's house in Queens and sitting out front
on the steps where his dad who was a baker, taught him to play spoons. It
was then he realized he has a sense of rhythm and loved music as well. He
took up the trumpet in school at age 9 and while in Boy Scouts played the
bugle. But began listening to early 60's rock and roll on the radio and
found himself banging out the beat with his hands to everything he heard.
It was in 1963 when the Beatles came on the scene and Bobbyg realized then
he wanted to be a drummer. Using spoons and then sticks on Charles Chips
cans in the backyard as well as outdoor furniture cushions, when told to
quiet down, the beat began. By age 11 he had quit the trumpet and boy
scouts, and became more interested in girls and Rock and Roll. He immersed
himself into drums, taking lessons from a family friend who was a
professional drummer in the jazz circuit. Just a couple of weeks after his
12th birthday, tragedy struck as his father past away from a Heart Attack.
Bobbyg then immersed himself into music and a year later his mom bought
him his first Drum set for his 13th Birthday / Bar Mitzvah. He quickly
formed a band, Bobby and the Bombers playing at parties and school
functions. From there he would play in many different bands over the years
as he and his family moved from Long Island to Pa.and then to Connecticut,
when in High School played with a Band called the Organized Confusion, now
in the late 60's, with influences of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and as
the 70's came he discovered his mentor, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. It
was then he developed a love for not only heavy rock and roll but the
blues. He used to listen to listen to BB King, Albert King, Taj Mahal, Ben
E. King, Elmore James etc. By mid 70's another Band grabbed his attention
to whom he became a loyal follower over the years, The Allman Brother's
Band. Again being the jamming sound of Southern Rock, was once again The
Blues....After College and living in NYC, where he used to go down to
Bleaker Street late in the evening and sit in playing brushes on a thin
steel drum which was on top of a piano, in a bar next to the Bitter End.
He would play that as well as began playing spoons much more frequently
realizing that he could play them to all types of music, not just
bluegrass and rockabilly. From New York he moved to South Florida and for
years played in a Band with his cousin called Inpulse, doing gigs at
Sundays on the Bay and Tugboat Annie's, this was a classic Rock Band.
Again tragedy struck when his step dad died, once again immersing himself
into music. About 8 years ago left that band and began playing with Mark
Begelman, now owner of Mars Music, and previously he was president of
Office Depot. Mark and Bob put together a band originally called the
Eraserheads, while Mark was at Office Depot and then became Men from Mars
when he began Mars Music Superstores a few years ago. With Mark they
played many gigs on Atlantic Ave in Delray, Sun Fest, special events like
the Olympic Torch Ceremony and Concert in Palm Beach in 96 as well as gigs
at Tugboat Annie's and private parties. Then about 6 months ago a
discussion of music with a close friend who he met through business, also
playing in a classic rock band, began the idea of putting together a blues
band with a couple of guys his friend new. Bobbyg loved the idea, as blues
have always been his favorite live music to listen too and his passion and
background to much of his favorite Rock and Roll. So it was set, this
friend of his, is Bob Garfield, rhythm guitar player, the guys he knew,
well that's easy Robbie Alter and Richie Goldman. After one rehearsal at
Bobbyg's house, they knew there was that magical, musical connection
between all of them. The instant chemistry of all there individual years
of music coming together. Bobbyg and Richie fell into the pocket like
putting on a perfect sized suit. They have now culminated their passion to
playing music with the Blues as "Blue House"... now Bobbyg's
blues band mates fondly refer to him as BB G
To Be Continued....
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