Bob Alberti
Encyclopedia
Bob Alberti is an American
pianist born in Brooklyn, New York in 1934. He attended P.S. 185 and Fort Hamilton High School
, both in the Bay Ridge
section of Brooklyn
. His paternal family was a long line of musicians beginning with the Alberti Family Orchestra, seven people including his Great-Grandparents and their five offspring, all of whom were accomplished musicians. His father was an orchestra leader in the 1930s so it naturally led him into a life in the music industry.
His mentor was jazz pianist Teddy Wilson
, with whom he studied at a young age. He formed his first little combo at age 14 and that group played at restaurants and associations in the New York area. At age 16 he joined Charlie Spivak
's orchestra, one of the "name bands" of the day. From there he also played with the bands of Louis Prima
, Jerry Gray
and Les Brown
(at a later time on the West Coast
.) While still in New York he formed a jazz trio and played in Greenwich Village
nightclubs. For a period of about five years he was actively playing with the "society bands" of the New York area, playing weddings, debutante parties and all sorts of various engagements.
In 1960 Alberti decided to try the music scene in the Los Angeles
area, which was growing rapidly as the new hub of television production. He served as personal musical director for stars of the era that included Paul Anka
, Johnny Mathis
, Jack Jones
, Patti Page
, Shari Lewis
, Kay Starr
and many others. Eventually he spent thirty-four years as a studio musician, playing piano, arranging and conducting for major productions. He was the alternate pianist on Johnny Carson
's "Tonight Show" from 1974 to 1983, and handled the music for the Bob Hope
Shows at NBC
until he chose to retire from the active music business in Los Angeles and move to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. During that time he also served as musical director on "Name That Tune
," a game show, as well as supplying music for numerous situation comedies and variety shows. He was twice nominated for an Emmy award for musical direction.
After leaving California, Alberti managed to continue his musical career by returning to his roots, that being the world of jazz piano. He was tapped (in retirement) to be the accompanist for Steve Lawrence
and Eydie Gorme
and spent five years in that capacity (until 2002.) In 1996 he was named as music coordinator for Dolphin Recording Studios of Hilton Head, South Carolina. He wrote an autobiography titled, "Up The Ladder and Over The Top: Memoirs of a Hollywood Studio Musician" in 2003. He still manages to keep active in local jazz venues and occasionally still gets called to play on recording sessions for various artists in the southeast quadrant of the country. Alberti has recorded six CDs with his own groups.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pianist born in Brooklyn, New York in 1934. He attended P.S. 185 and Fort Hamilton High School
Fort Hamilton High School
Fort Hamilton High School is a public high school in Brooklyn, New York, USA, under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Education. Students in Bay Ridge, Sunset Park and Dyker Heights are zoned to Fort Hamilton HS. It has stood overlooking the Narrows and Lower New York Bay since...
, both in the Bay Ridge
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Sunset Park on the north, Seventh Avenue and Dyker Heights on the east, The Narrows Strait, which partially houses the Belt Parkway, on the west and 86th Street and Fort Hamilton on...
section of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. His paternal family was a long line of musicians beginning with the Alberti Family Orchestra, seven people including his Great-Grandparents and their five offspring, all of whom were accomplished musicians. His father was an orchestra leader in the 1930s so it naturally led him into a life in the music industry.
His mentor was jazz pianist Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson
Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.-Biography:Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in...
, with whom he studied at a young age. He formed his first little combo at age 14 and that group played at restaurants and associations in the New York area. At age 16 he joined Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak was an American trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s.-Biography:...
's orchestra, one of the "name bands" of the day. From there he also played with the bands of Louis Prima
Louis Prima
Louis Prima was a Sicilian American singer, actor, songwriter, and trumpeter. Prima rode the musical trends of his time, starting with his seven-piece New Orleans style jazz band in the 1920s, then successively leading a swing combo in the 1930s, a big band in the 1940s, a Vegas lounge act in the...
, Jerry Gray
Jerry Gray (Arranger)
Jerry Gray was an American violinist, arranger, composer, and leader of swing dance orchestras bearing his name. He is widely known for his work with popular music during the Swing era. His name is inextricably linked to two of the most famous bandleaders of the time, Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller...
and Les Brown
Les Brown (bandleader)
Les Brown, Sr. and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the late 1930s, initially as the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils that Brown led while a student at Duke University. He was the first president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences...
(at a later time on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
.) While still in New York he formed a jazz trio and played in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
nightclubs. For a period of about five years he was actively playing with the "society bands" of the New York area, playing weddings, debutante parties and all sorts of various engagements.
In 1960 Alberti decided to try the music scene in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area, which was growing rapidly as the new hub of television production. He served as personal musical director for stars of the era that included Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
, Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
, Jack Jones
Jack Jones (singer)
John Allan "Jack" Jones is an American jazz and pop singer. He was one of the most popular vocalists of the 1960s.-Overview:...
, Patti Page
Patti Page
Clara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
, Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis was an American ventriloquist, puppeteer, and children's television show host, most popular during the 1960s and 1990s...
, Kay Starr
Kay Starr
Kay Starr is an American pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable success in the 1940s and 50s. She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz"....
and many others. Eventually he spent thirty-four years as a studio musician, playing piano, arranging and conducting for major productions. He was the alternate pianist on Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
's "Tonight Show" from 1974 to 1983, and handled the music for the Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
Shows at NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
until he chose to retire from the active music business in Los Angeles and move to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. During that time he also served as musical director on "Name That Tune
Name That Tune
Name That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
," a game show, as well as supplying music for numerous situation comedies and variety shows. He was twice nominated for an Emmy award for musical direction.
After leaving California, Alberti managed to continue his musical career by returning to his roots, that being the world of jazz piano. He was tapped (in retirement) to be the accompanist for Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence is an American singer and actor, perhaps best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as "Steve and Eydie"...
and Eydie Gorme
Eydie Gormé
Eydie Gormé is an American singer, specializing, with her husband, Steve Lawrence, in traditional pop music, in the form of ballads and breezy swing. She has earned numerous awards, including the Grammy and the Emmy...
and spent five years in that capacity (until 2002.) In 1996 he was named as music coordinator for Dolphin Recording Studios of Hilton Head, South Carolina. He wrote an autobiography titled, "Up The Ladder and Over The Top: Memoirs of a Hollywood Studio Musician" in 2003. He still manages to keep active in local jazz venues and occasionally still gets called to play on recording sessions for various artists in the southeast quadrant of the country. Alberti has recorded six CDs with his own groups.