Bobby Hammack | |
---|---|
Birth name | Robert Vernor Hammack, Jr. |
Born | Brookston, Texas | January 22, 1922
Died | March 28, 1990 | (aged 68)
Genres | Swing music, Popular songs, Big band, Film score |
Occupation(s) | Pianist, Bandleader, Arranger, Composer, Studio musician, Music executive, Freelance musician |
Instrument(s) | piano |
Years active | 1945–1990 |
Labels | Capitol, Rhino, Audiophile, Coral, Liberty, Light |
Formerly of |
Walt Disney 1964 New York World's Fair ABC |
Robert Vernor Hammack, Jr. (January 22, 1922 Brookston, Texas – March 28, 1990 Riverside, California) was an American musician, originally from Texas, whose principal instrument was jazz piano. He led a prolific career in Los Angeles as a pianist, organist, conductor, arranger, and composer in (i) live venues, (ii) broadcast studios for radio and television, and (iii) recording studios for records, radio, television, and film. [1] [2] [3] Hammack flourished in a wide spectrum of genres that included dixieland, Blues, swing, sweet dance music (e.g., Lawrence Welk), easy listening, gospel, liturgical jazz, musical theatre, Tin Pan Alley, classical, and film score. [4]
In 1949, Hammack began appearing KLAC-TV as studio band pianist and, in 1950, guest host — Don Otis Show — and eventually host — Bobby Hammack and Joy Lane. Hammack was the West Coast musical director of the ABC-TV and radio networks between 1958 and 1963, during which he conducted his own orchestra and scored music for several TV shows, including Ed Sullivan, Glen Campbell, Red Skelton, and Johnny Mann's Stand-Up and Cheer. [5] Hammack then was a conductor and a pianist for NBC. He joined ASCAP in 1958. Hammack's popular song compositions include I'm Going Home, Eliza, and You Bug Me.
Hammack got his first break playing piano for Red Nichols as one of his post-war Five Pennies, appearing with Nichols in a number of film shorts in the early 1950s. Hammack also worked as a freelance arranger and writer for Bob Crosby, Lawrence Welk, and Tony Osborne. His version of Raymond Scott's Powerhouse is featured on several space age pop compilations, and he also recorded with Esquivel.
Hammack earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, majoring in music, from the University of Texas at Austin in 1945. He had entered as a freshman in the fall 1938, but, beginning September 21, 1942, spent two years in the Air Force, stationed at Muskogee, Oklahoma. At Texas, he studied piano at the newly established (1938) College of Fine Arts with Thomas Arthur Gorton, PhD (1910–1997), who, in addition to being a concert pianist, went on to become Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Kansas from 1950 to 1975. [6]
[7] He graduated from Paris High School in 1938. Hammack was also a proficient trombonist. [8] While in high school and college, Hammack led his own dance orchestra.
As leader
As leader of the back-up musical group
As keyboardist (re-release dates)
As composer/arranger
As conductor
Orchestra leader
Composer
Music department
Actor
Sideman
Bobby Hammack | |
---|---|
Birth name | Robert Vernor Hammack, Jr. |
Born | Brookston, Texas | January 22, 1922
Died | March 28, 1990 | (aged 68)
Genres | Swing music, Popular songs, Big band, Film score |
Occupation(s) | Pianist, Bandleader, Arranger, Composer, Studio musician, Music executive, Freelance musician |
Instrument(s) | piano |
Years active | 1945–1990 |
Labels | Capitol, Rhino, Audiophile, Coral, Liberty, Light |
Formerly of |
Walt Disney 1964 New York World's Fair ABC |
Robert Vernor Hammack, Jr. (January 22, 1922 Brookston, Texas – March 28, 1990 Riverside, California) was an American musician, originally from Texas, whose principal instrument was jazz piano. He led a prolific career in Los Angeles as a pianist, organist, conductor, arranger, and composer in (i) live venues, (ii) broadcast studios for radio and television, and (iii) recording studios for records, radio, television, and film. [1] [2] [3] Hammack flourished in a wide spectrum of genres that included dixieland, Blues, swing, sweet dance music (e.g., Lawrence Welk), easy listening, gospel, liturgical jazz, musical theatre, Tin Pan Alley, classical, and film score. [4]
In 1949, Hammack began appearing KLAC-TV as studio band pianist and, in 1950, guest host — Don Otis Show — and eventually host — Bobby Hammack and Joy Lane. Hammack was the West Coast musical director of the ABC-TV and radio networks between 1958 and 1963, during which he conducted his own orchestra and scored music for several TV shows, including Ed Sullivan, Glen Campbell, Red Skelton, and Johnny Mann's Stand-Up and Cheer. [5] Hammack then was a conductor and a pianist for NBC. He joined ASCAP in 1958. Hammack's popular song compositions include I'm Going Home, Eliza, and You Bug Me.
Hammack got his first break playing piano for Red Nichols as one of his post-war Five Pennies, appearing with Nichols in a number of film shorts in the early 1950s. Hammack also worked as a freelance arranger and writer for Bob Crosby, Lawrence Welk, and Tony Osborne. His version of Raymond Scott's Powerhouse is featured on several space age pop compilations, and he also recorded with Esquivel.
Hammack earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, majoring in music, from the University of Texas at Austin in 1945. He had entered as a freshman in the fall 1938, but, beginning September 21, 1942, spent two years in the Air Force, stationed at Muskogee, Oklahoma. At Texas, he studied piano at the newly established (1938) College of Fine Arts with Thomas Arthur Gorton, PhD (1910–1997), who, in addition to being a concert pianist, went on to become Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Kansas from 1950 to 1975. [6]
[7] He graduated from Paris High School in 1938. Hammack was also a proficient trombonist. [8] While in high school and college, Hammack led his own dance orchestra.
As leader
As leader of the back-up musical group
As keyboardist (re-release dates)
As composer/arranger
As conductor
Orchestra leader
Composer
Music department
Actor
Sideman