Bill
Allred's Classic Jazz Band Bios
Bobby Pickwood
Bobby
Pickwood -
Trumpet
One
look inside Bobby's music room will positively identify his
interests as music, old maps, and Christopher
Columbus. Pictures of his inspirations, Louis Armstrong and
Maynard Ferguson, among others, occupy a couple of walls.
In fact, he says that every trumpet player he has ever heard
became an inspiration to him. Photos of a young Bobby in
early music groups are there to chronicle his progress, along
with his main inspiration, his wife Pam. One wall is almost
completely filled with an ancient map and lithographs of
Columbus. Bobby's interest in music started in a very unique
manner. He said he was fascinated by the music from a " Jack
In The Box" his parents bought him when he was three
years old.
The Los Angeles native started with a form of the "box",
the accordion, added guitar at age seven, and trumpet at
age fourteen. He tried tenor sax in
high school, but says the reed tickled his lips, and thus the decision was for
the trumpet. He also liked the fact that the trumpet played the melody, as in
singing.
His first paid
performance was at the San Fernando Valley American Legion,
which he had to play by ear, since he
couldn't as yet read music for the trumpet. In high school,
the usual opportunities to gain experience filled his time
and increased his interest to the point that he wanted
to further his musical education. His goal was the solo
spot in the famed Jazz "A" band at California
State University.
In 1979 he won the award for the outstanding soloist
at the Chaffey College Jazz Festival. During this time
he was also working as an arranger and consultant for several
Las Vegas and Reno performers, as well as performing in
and guest conducting the Burbank Civic Light Orchestra,
plus arranging and playing in the Dick Grove School of
Music studio jazz band. Outstanding trumpeter awards came
also in 1982, both at the Reno Collegiate Jazz Festival
and the Pacific Coast Jazz Festival. The year 1982 brought
forth his first recording, with the CSUN Jazz Band, as
well as performing at some big name Los Angeles clubs with
the Lad McIntosh Big Band, with whom he also recorded and
received acclaim for his solos.
Bobby formed
his own band, "The Jazz Cook Book",
to perform and record some of his original music and arrangements.
He has also written and produced music for various film
projects and commercials. In 1986 being named associate
musical director for the stage production of "Cotton
Club", to be performed in Las Vegas, afforded him
the opportunity to arrange for and perform with the likes
of Gregory Hines.
After more
playing and recording and forming a Dixieland quintet,
he attracted the attention of Walt Disney Entertainment.
After playing at Pleasure Island for a year, he moved on
to his present," regular jobs", at MGM studios,
with the "Hollywood Hitmen", and fronting the
society orchestra at the Grand Floridian Hotel, both at
Florida's Walt Disney World. Not yet busy enough, in June
he started playing in the Dixie Trio at the Magic Kingdom.
As a charter member of the BACJB, Bobby gets a chance
to exercise several of his loves and talents. Vocals, arranging,
traveling and of course, playing trumpet, all contribute
to his goal of continued growth. He humbly considers himself
very fortunate to be where he is musically and looks forward
to doing more with vocals and composition in the future.
Besides those already mentioned, Bobby's credentials include
playing with Frankie Lane, Patti Page, The Mills Brothers,
The Ink Spots, The Four Lads, Cab Calloway, Kay Kaiser,
Ray Charles and Marilyn McCoo whenever they are in Florida.
Bobby is definitely one young man with talent, intelligence,
attitude and personality to climb to the top.
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