BOBBY CALDWELL
*See the radio/tv shows for additional Bobby Caldwell songs
Cd track listing: Fingerstyle More Fingerstyle Pals Charlotte Peters Show In the Spotlight a LITTLE BIT OF THIS Friends of Steel Trio Swings Trio Live
| Bobby started playing at the age of five. At fourteen, he was playing his first paying job in St. Louis with Tex Schroeder. Not too long after that, a group was put together in high school called "The Teen Tones" featuring Jules Blattner. Bobby stayed with the Teen Tones until 1961. While with the Teen Tones, he played all over the St. Louis area. Bobby was the guitar player on the first St Louis Hop TV shows with Russ Carter. The first shows featured live music and without really realizing it, Bobby was getting the experience that someday would win him the reputation of being among the very best and most respected players in the St. Louis area. This same "Bobby Caldwell" soon was to become known worldwide. In the 1950's, Bobby traveled playing fair dates, dances, etc. with Ike Turner, Chuck Berry, Little Milton, and several other top name performers. He was playing guitar on recordings on the Bobbin, K-Ark, and the Norman label. Some of the recordings were "Gamblin Man", "Rock & Roll Blues", and "Let's Try It Just One More Time".
The Charlotte Peters Show Here was great exposure for Bobby. The Charlotte Peters show was a five day a week LIVE TV show. It was a variety show and Bobby played back up for many of the celebrities of that era. They came from all over the US to perform. Most performers were already in town performing at one of the public functions and were glad to get the exposure of the show. He played behind notable people such as: The Ink Spots, Steve Allen, Carol Lawrence, Carol Channing, Al Hirt, and many more. Let your imagination run wild as to the hundreds of pop singers that appeared on the show and Bobby played behind every one of them. Bobby became good friends with Charlotte and was with the show from around 1957 until the show went off the air in 1970. Also, keep in mind that Bobby was still a teenager! Bobby has released a CD of tunes that were recorded live on the Charlotte Peters Show from 1966 which are available for purchase on this website.
Love For Country Music With all this rock & roll and pop music Bobby was playing, would you believe that he always had a love for country music? If he had time off while he was working with the Teen Tones, he would take jobs with local country bands. He was getting proficient on the finger style playing. His experience on this style of playing would soon have it's own rewards as he was to be commissioned by guitar book publisher, Mel Bay, to write two books on the Chet Atkins style of playing. Bobby wrote and Mel published two Chet style books. (Bobby's dad, Jim Caldwell, bought the very first guitar instruction book that Mel Bay released on the market.) Of course, Bobby and Mel became the best of friends and played many gigs together until Mel passed away. Bobby went on to work with some major country acts. He played over the years with many Nashville and Grand Ol' Opry performers such as: the Wilburn Brothers, Ray Price, Carl Smith, Sammi Smith, Carl & Pearl Butler, Stringbean, Johnny Bush, Darrell McCall, Billie Joe Spears, Barbara Fairchild (Bobby is playing on some of Fairchild's earlier recordings), Barbara Mandrell, and the list goes on and on!
Bobby's Recording History "CHARLOTTE PETERS SHOW" This CD features tunes that were recorded live on the Charlotte Peters Show from 1966. This was a variety show and Bobby played back up for many of the celebrities of that era. "ZANE BECK MEETS BOBBY CALDWELL" This was recorded at Ben Hall Studios in Nashville, TN and cut, mixed down, and "out of there" in three and one half hours! "JET AGE" by Julian Tharpe. This was recorded at the Johnny Cash Studio in Hendersonville, TN. While at the studio, Julian wrote the charts our for all the horn players and it was recorded, mixed down, and "gone" in six hours. "MORE WAYS TO PLAY" by Curly Chalker. Bradley's Barn Studios in Mt. Juliet, TN was where this was recorded. A great recording - Bobby was co-writer with Curly on the tune "Seven To One". "PAPPY WADE RAY" this LP was recorded in St Louis at the Smith Lee Studios in Ladue, MO. with all St Louis musicians. Bobby and Wade complimented each other perfectly. A labor of love but sometimes that turns out to be best. "IN THE SPOTLIGHT" by Bobby Caldwell. This LP was recorded at Technisonic Studios in St. Louis, MO. Once again, all the musicians were from St. Louis. Bobby got to perform his jazz style with the Herb Drury Trio doing the backup. A great LP for you jazz fans and now available on CD! "DEEP FEELINGS" by Julian Tharpe. Recorded in a north St. Louis studio with St Louis musicians, this LP was put together rather quickly while Julian was in town and Bobby played great on it. He and Julian were quite a pair. Julian was always inspired by Bobby and when they got together, some magic was always created between them. "SELECTIONS" by Herby Wallace. This was recorded July 20, 1997 at Audio Media Group in Knoxville, TN and just very well might be the best one that Herby has recorded to date. It is full of life and enthusiasm and drive. "FINGER STYLE GUITAR" By Bobby Caldwell was recorded at Sher-Lin Studios in Osage Beach, MO. This is a cassette and has no other instruments that Bobby plays. A great Demonstration of Bobby's versatility on the guitar. This is now available on Cd. "A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT" by Bobby Caldwell. This CD features tunes recorded by Bobby at Sher-Lin studios in Osage Beach, MO. and features a variety of music styles. "FRIENDS OF STEEL" by Bobby Caldwell. This compilation Cd features steel players recorded with Bobby at various jam sessions and shows. "BOBBY CALDWELL TRIO SWINGS!" This CD features tunes recorded by Bobby at Sher-Lin studios in Osage Beach, MO. Within the last five years, Bobby has been asked to play on three Johnny Bush CDs. As Bobby says, "Johnny Bush is a great singer and a great song writer; but just as important, an all around great guy!" Bobby has also performed on the following CDs: "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" by Herby Wallace, "Ivory and Steel" by Herby Wallace, "Herby and Friends" by Herby Wallace, "Mr. Wallace and Company" by Herby Wallace, "Live in St. Louis" by Buddy Emmons, "From Sydney to Nashville" by Ken Kitching, and "Lost Highway Saloon" by Johnny Bush.
The International Steel Guitar Convention Bobby has a way of inspiring the steel players. So it is no surprise that Bobby is the leader of the ISGC staff band. When an intro is given to a specific player, you most likely can give credit to the drummer; but, when it is time to give a boost in the song somewhere and at the ending - it is Bobby Caldwell that shows his leadership talent and indeed does inspire and help create the enthusiasm needed to make a great song even greater. There are times when a player might just be a "whole lot nervous" and Bobby will do his job and actually talk that player out of being nervous and as a result, the player does fine. He keeps the band "loose" with his sense of humor. He sometimes is no match here as Rick Boyer, Jimmy Queen, Roy Rosetta, and Bobby Regot are known for their quick wit and humor. The convention can run for a straight eight hours at time and Bobby always seems to be on stage. Bobby is truly a large part of this annual convention.
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