Bob Scobey
Encyclopedia
Bob Scobey was an American jazz
musician born in Tucumcari, New Mexico
.
He began his career playing in dance orchestras and nightclubs in the 1930s. In 1938 he worked as second trumpeter for Lu Watters
in the Yerba Buena Jazz Band
. By 1949 he was leading his own band under the name Bob Scobey's Frisco Band. From 1950 the group continued to play a three year residency at the Victor & Roxie's where their popularity grew.
Clancy Hayes
joined the band to sing, play banjo and had his own compositions such as "Huggin' And a Chalkin'" recorded. The collaboration recorded over two hundred tracks until he left in 1959 to follow a solo career.
The Frisco Band was broadcast in 1952 and 1953 on Rusty Draper
's television show. In 1953 Louis Armstrong
sang with them at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. From 1954 to 1957, African-American blues singer Lizzie Miles
recorded and toured with the band.
In 1955, Scobey and his band played dates at San Quentin Prison and at the Rancho Grande in Lafayette, California
—a sizable roadhouse with a dance floor. In 1957 he recorded for Verve Records
and RCA Victor. From early in 1956, he toured colleges and universities, and in 1958 he recorded many of the student favorites in New York, the album College Classics (RCA Victor LPM 1700).
In 1959 Scobey opened the Club Bourbon Street, Chicago
. While touring in 1960, he was reportedly drinking half and half
or heavy cream
to ease the pain in his stomach.
Scobey died of cancer
in 1963. His wife Jan produced a biography entitled He Rambled! and arranged for his band to form again and record some blues songs. She also saw to the reissuing of his albums.
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...
musician born in Tucumcari, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
Tucumcari is a city in and the county seat of Quay County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 5,989 at the 2000 census. Tucumcari was founded in 1901, two years before Quay County was founded.-History:...
.
He began his career playing in dance orchestras and nightclubs in the 1930s. In 1938 he worked as second trumpeter for Lu Watters
Lu Watters
Lucius "Lu" Watters was a trumpeter and bandleader of the Yerba Buena Jazz Band in the "West Coast revival" of Dixieland music...
in the Yerba Buena Jazz Band
Yerba Buena Jazz Band
Lu Watters & the Yerba Buena Jazz Band is the name of the Dixieland revival band founded by Lu Watters. Notable members include singer and banjoist Clancy Hayes ; clarinetist Bob Helm; trumpeter Bob Scobey; trombonist Turk Murphy; tubist/bassist Dick Lammi; and Watters himself. The band broke up in...
. By 1949 he was leading his own band under the name Bob Scobey's Frisco Band. From 1950 the group continued to play a three year residency at the Victor & Roxie's where their popularity grew.
Clancy Hayes
Clancy Hayes
Clarence Leonard Hayes was a jazz vocalist, banjoist and guitarist born November 14, 1908 in Caney, Kansas. He lived in Parsons, Kansas for a short time, and the town is the subject of his song "The Parsons, Kansas Blues": . He worked always as a professional musician, turning up in San Francisco...
joined the band to sing, play banjo and had his own compositions such as "Huggin' And a Chalkin'" recorded. The collaboration recorded over two hundred tracks until he left in 1959 to follow a solo career.
The Frisco Band was broadcast in 1952 and 1953 on Rusty Draper
Rusty Draper
Farrell H. "Rusty" Draper was an American country and pop singer, who achieved his greatest success in the 1950s....
's television show. In 1953 Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
sang with them at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. From 1954 to 1957, African-American blues singer Lizzie Miles
Lizzie Miles
Lizzie Miles was the stage name taken by Elizabeth Mary Landreaux , an African American blues singer.-Career:...
recorded and toured with the band.
In 1955, Scobey and his band played dates at San Quentin Prison and at the Rancho Grande in Lafayette, California
Lafayette, California
Lafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 23,893. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War...
—a sizable roadhouse with a dance floor. In 1957 he recorded for Verve Records
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
and RCA Victor. From early in 1956, he toured colleges and universities, and in 1958 he recorded many of the student favorites in New York, the album College Classics (RCA Victor LPM 1700).
In 1959 Scobey opened the Club Bourbon Street, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. While touring in 1960, he was reportedly drinking half and half
Half and half
Half and half refers to various beverages or liquid foods made of an equal-parts mixture of two substances, including dairy products, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks...
or heavy cream
Cream
Cream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-butterfat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, over time, the lighter fat rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream this process is accelerated by using centrifuges called "separators"...
to ease the pain in his stomach.
Scobey died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1963. His wife Jan produced a biography entitled He Rambled! and arranged for his band to form again and record some blues songs. She also saw to the reissuing of his albums.