Bob Porter (record producer)
Encyclopedia
Bob Porter is an American
record producer
, discographer, writer, and radio presenter. He has been responsible for reissuing many classic blues
and jazz
recordings, and in 2009 was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame
.
He was born in Wellesley
, Massachusetts
. Since the 1960s he has produced over 200 albums of jazz and blues music, first working as reissue producer for Savoy Records
, 1975-80, and then Atlantic Records
, 1986-91. He has subsequently worked for many other record labels. It has been said that "The result of his painstaking efforts is the restoration of much of the 20th century's most indelible music, now preserved for future generations and sounding better than ever before."
In 1981, he started broadcasting Portraits In Blue, a syndicated radio program covering blues, R&B and soul music
which he launched at WBGO
in Newark, New Jersey
. He received the 1986 W C Handy Award for Keeping the Blues Alive in public radio, as well as many other awards. He has five Grammy nominations, and won in 1980 for his liner notes for The Complete Charlie Parker
on Savoy, and in 1986 as Re-issue producer for Atlantic Rhythm & Blues. He is a past member of the nominating committee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
. He has been one of the MCs of the Chicago Blues Festival since 1990.
He has written for a wide variety of magazines including Down Beat
and Cash Box, and has written liner notes for more than three hundred albums of jazz and blues. He has also contributed expertise to organizations including the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, discographer, writer, and radio presenter. He has been responsible for reissuing many classic blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
recordings, and in 2009 was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame
Blues Hall of Fame
The Blues Hall of Fame is a listing of people who have significantly contributed to blues music. Started in 1980 by the Blues Foundation, it honors those who have performed, recorded, or documented blues.-1980:*Big Bill Broonzy*Willie Dixon*John Lee Hooker...
.
He was born in Wellesley
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Since the 1960s he has produced over 200 albums of jazz and blues music, first working as reissue producer for Savoy Records
Savoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
, 1975-80, and then Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, 1986-91. He has subsequently worked for many other record labels. It has been said that "The result of his painstaking efforts is the restoration of much of the 20th century's most indelible music, now preserved for future generations and sounding better than ever before."
In 1981, he started broadcasting Portraits In Blue, a syndicated radio program covering blues, R&B and soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
which he launched at WBGO
WBGO
WBGO is a public radio station broadcasting from Newark, New Jersey. The station primarily plays jazz music. In addition the station airs public affairs programming, locally-produced newscasts, traffic reports from Metro Traffic during morning and afternoon rush hours, and NPR-produced newscasts...
in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. He received the 1986 W C Handy Award for Keeping the Blues Alive in public radio, as well as many other awards. He has five Grammy nominations, and won in 1980 for his liner notes for The Complete Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
on Savoy, and in 1986 as Re-issue producer for Atlantic Rhythm & Blues. He is a past member of the nominating committee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
. He has been one of the MCs of the Chicago Blues Festival since 1990.
He has written for a wide variety of magazines including 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...
and Cash Box, and has written liner notes for more than three hundred albums of jazz and blues. He has also contributed expertise to organizations including the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
.