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* bob boyd sounds *
FAQs of Bob Boyd


I run into people I know everywhere I go. They all ask me
the same question; "Are you enjoying being retired?" So
here, I will try to answer that, and some other questions.

"Do you enjoy being retired?"

For many years, my band work had to be secondary to the
operation of Boyd Music Center. It was my dream to
someday once again become a full-time musician and
bandleader. Since we closed our doors last summer
(2000) that dream has become a reality.

Indeed, lots of people still are surprised when they learn I
am a musician too, and a working musician at that. I have,
in fact, been playing the piano in bands, most of the time
as leader or co-leader, since 1955.


"Are you still playing?"

Yes, playing is all a part of living for me, and a very
important part. It is such a joy for me to work with David
Higginbotham, Randy McDonald, and Pat Henry. David,
Randy, and I formed the Bob Boyd Trio back in 1991.

David plays upright bass, plays guitar in our Mariachi and
Italian groups, and sings lead beautifully. He is a superb
music director and a very gifted songwriter. Randy plays
drums and sings in the group. He also doubles piano and
bass, is a master sound recording engineer at Zanbeck
Studios, is a computer expert, and a gifted songwriter.

In addition to a busy calendar of private parties and other
functions, we played at the Unity Church every Sunday for
six years, and produced an album of original inspirational
music, The Unity Trio.

Pat Henry, in recent years, has become our band's
welcome fourth member. Pat plays trumpet, trombone and
flugelhorn, and sings lead and alto (but not at the same
time.) He is also adept on the flute, piano, guitar, and
bass. Pat has recorded three albums, playing all the
instruments himself. (He says he had a lot of cheap help!)

All four of us are bandleaders in our own right. But the sum
of the whole is greater than its parts. We have played
together so much that we can anticipate each other's
every move, every note. The joy in playing I first had is
back! I enjoy writing vocal arrangements for us. I look
forward to every concert, to every tune.

Sometimes our new ideas just tumble over each other in
exuberance. Jazz began as fun music, and we have put the
fun back into it!


"What kinds of music do you play?"

Everyone tends to want to classify or pigeonhole a band
as playing a particular style of music. So far we have
successfully resisted that. We have presented Dixieland,
Cajun, Polka, Mariachi, Italian, Irish, and Western
Swing-style band shows. But most of the time we play a mix
of popular standards, swing, and popular jazz from all the
decades. All four of us sing lead on some tunes and we
present many tunes in four part harmony, ala The Four
Freshman or Manhatten transfer.


"Where are you playing, so I can come hear your band?"

Almost all of our engagements are private parties, like
weddings and receptions, anniversaries, birthdays,
company parties, and conventions. Unfortunately for us
and for our potential audiences, most restaurants, clubs,
and lounges don't hire bands that play our classic forms of
jazz, popular, and show music.