Original bassist of the group "Rufus" a funk/ rock/ pop band from the 70's, is stepping out on his own and letting the real stars of the show "the songs" shine. Rufus was a band that came on the scene in 1974 with the release of the hit single "Tell me something good", written by Stevie Wonder! "In those days the bands did everything for themselves" says Bobby. "We wrote the songs, we produced our own music, we created the Rufus sound, by working, arguing, and generally being together everyday". "I was a part of that sound, and helped to create it". "I didn't know it then but all the experiences I was having in Rufus was preparing me for the future where I would eventually end up producing my own artists". "One of my artists, Rene & Angela would become a platinum selling act"! "1 million albums sold"!
If someone had told me that I was going to grow up to be a music producer and have a million seller, it would certainly have gotten a blank stare from me. I grew up in South central LA in the 60's. It was a lower class working neighborhood with a lot of proud families, no one was rich, but everyone had jobs and worked back then. We moved to LA from Memphis (where I was born).
I played guitar from the age of 6, but was facsinated with all the horns in the school band, eventually taking up baritone sax in jr high & high school. Playing sax led me to reading music.
The Rufus "hit parade" is comprised of a lot of good songs over the 10 years we recorded as a band, starting with "Tell me something good" and ending with "Ain't nobody". Both won Grammy's.
To be truthful though, the recordings I am most proud of are my first 2 gold records that I got from Billy Preston's "Nothing from Nothing" and "Outa Space" singles, those were done before Rufus, and it means that I was able to help create hit records with my bass sound playing not only in Rufus but with other artists too. My bass can be heard on a lot of recordings that have become classic, not just Rufus recordings.
Michael Jackson's Rock with you for example! that song was the first single from the "off the wall" album release in 1980 and propelled Michael Jackson's album to over 8 million in sales.
Most of my time in the music business has been spent behind the scenes, writing, producing, developing artists, but now I am seeing a resurgence of good bands from my era come out and start playing those real songs again. Songs that the baby boomers listened to when they were in college, starting families or careers. The days of radio, dancing, and parties. I am putting together a great unit of players with a feel for the 70's era music, as well as singers who can take the Rufus songs and portrait a time from the 70's when your girlfriend or boyfriend was your "sweet thing"!
You Are Truely THE Bass Player's Bass Player...! Always Holding It Down Solid With That Bounce Every Drummer Yearns For. Showing Some Love From Detroit Where It's Always Real...!
If you want to support me, buy or download the instrumental solo drumming cd “Drums Music” from Peter Hasler’s Kitchen over cdbaby.com or amazon.com. Songs to download are on itunes.com.
If you want to support me, buy or download the instrumental solo drumming cd “Drums Music” from Peter Hasler’s Kitchen over cdbaby.com or amazon.com. Songs to download are on itunes.com.
Keeping it funky like yourself,me and Yvonne are just fine and Dandy,glad to hear your'e busy.The Squire sounds phat with the Bartolini's.... ha. peace R :0)
