Bob Hames
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Earl Hames (1920–1998) was an American
jazz guitarist best known for being a staff guitarist for live productions at WFAA-TV
in the early 1950s. Down Beat
magazine rated him one of the top ten guitarist in the US.
He married twice:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz guitarist best known for being a staff guitarist for live productions at WFAA-TV
WFAA-TV
WFAA, channel 8, is an ABC-affiliated television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, one of the top ten media markets in North America. The station is the flagship of Belo Corporation and the largest ABC affiliate not owned and operated by the network...
in the early 1950s. Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
magazine rated him one of the top ten guitarist in the US.
Education & early professional career
| 1937 | Hames graduated from Wolfe City High School in Texas |
| mid-1940s | Hames was a member of the Jan Garber Jan Garber Jan Garber was an American jazz bandleader.-Biography:Garber was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He had his own band by the time he was 21 . He became known as "The Idol of the Airwaves" in his heyday of the 1920s and 1930s, playing jazz in the vein of contemporaries such as Paul Whiteman and Guy... Orchestra before enrolling at the University of North Texas University of North Texas The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067... |
| 1945 | Hames enrolled at the University of North Texas College of Music University of North Texas College of Music The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the oldest in the world offering a degree in jazz studies... . While there, he played electric guitar in 1945 with the Aces of Collegeland, the forerunner to the One O'Clock Lab Band One O'Clock Lab Band The One O’Clock Lab Band for years has been the premier ensemble of the Jazz Studies Division at the University of North Texas College of Music in Denton. The band has performed and toured abroad in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway,... . He also taught guitar on and off campus. One of his high school students, Jack Petersen, went on to become a well-known jazz educator and jazz guitar Jazz guitar The term jazz guitar may refer to either a type of guitar or to the variety of guitar playing styles used in the various genres which are commonly termed "jazz"... ist. Hames introduced Petersen to jazz recordings of Karl Kress, Tal Farlow Tal Farlow Talmage Holt Farlow was an American jazz guitarist. Nicknamed the "Octopus", Farlow's extremely large hands spread over the fretboard as if they were tentacles. He is considered one of the all-time great jazz guitarists. Michael G... , Chuck Wayne Chuck Wayne Chuck Wayne was a jazz guitarist who came to prominence in the 1940s. He is best known for his work with Woody Herman's First Herd, and for being the first guitarist in the George Shearing quintet... , Herb Ellis Herb Ellis Mitchell Herbert "Herb" Ellis was an American jazz guitarist. Perhaps best known for his 1950s membership in the trio of pianist Oscar Peterson, Ellis was also a staple of west-coast studio recording sessions, and was described by critic Scott Yanow as "an excellent bop-based guitarist with a... (then a student at North Texas), Barney Kessel Barney Kessel Barney Kessel was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA. Generally considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century, he was noted in particular for his vast knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies... , Barry Galbraith Barry Galbraith Joseph Barry Galbraith was an American jazz guitarist.Galbraith moved to New York City from Vermont early in the 1940s and found work playing with Babe Russin, Art Tatum, Red Norvo, Hal McIntyre, and Teddy Powell... , Remo Palmieri, Oscar Moore Oscar Moore Oscar Moore was an American swing jazz guitarist.Moore was an integral part of the Nat King Cole Trio during 1937–1947, appearing on virtually all of Cole's records during the period. A superb and influential guitarist, Moore was himself influenced by Charlie Christian... , and Charlie Christian Charlie Christian Charles Henry "Charlie" Christian was an American swing and jazz guitarist.Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar, and is cited as a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra... . |
| 1946 | While a student at North Texas, Hames was one of eight student musicians from North Texas to guest star on Interstate's weekly musical radio show, 3:30, Sunday, April 14, 1946, aired on WFAA. Betty Cooper (vocalist) featured with the Blue Notes, a quartet composed of Lynn McClain, June Heitt, Bonnye Williams, and Elsie Mae Cooper. Bob Hames (electric guitar), Jim Bob Floyd Jim Bob Floyd James Robert Floyd aka J. B. Floyd is an America concert pianist , composer, and music pedagogue at the collegiate level... (piano), and Bill Meeks (clarinet) were featured as a trio. |
| 1951 | Hames received a bachelor of music from the University of North Texas College of Music University of North Texas College of Music The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the oldest in the world offering a degree in jazz studies... |
| early 1950s | Hames also played guitar for several well known bands, including Stan Keller and His Orchestra |
Growing Up
Hames was born January 22, 1920, in Wolfe City, TX- Father — Joseph Irl Hames
- Mother — Jessie Lynn Hames, née Kiser
He married twice:
- Billye Mildred Goin (married December 31, 1942)
- b. August 24, 1921, Bailey, TexasBailey, TexasBailey is a city in Fannin County, Texas, United States. The population was 213 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bailey is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- d. Jan. 11, 1972, buried Mount Carmel Cemetery, Wolfe City, TX
- Bob and Billye had a son, Robert Barry Hames (b. Dec. 18, 1945, Denton County, TX), who is a doctor of osteopathic medicineDoctor of Osteopathic MedicineDoctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a professional doctoral degree for physicians in the United States. Holders of the MD degree, Doctor of Medicine, have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as osteopathic physicians in the United States.The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission...
in Fort Worth, TX. He is married to Ellen Mary Hames.- Helen Juanita Bullard (married 8-30-1975, Tarrant County, TX)
- Bob and Billye had a son, Robert Barry Hames (b. Dec. 18, 1945, Denton County, TX), who is a doctor of osteopathic medicine
- b. Aug. 30, 1928
- d. March 4, 1993