Bob Mayo
Encyclopedia
Bob "Bobby" Mayo was a session keyboardist
and guitarist
, perhaps best known for his work with Peter Frampton
.
Mayo was born in New York City
, and grew up in Westchester County
. He began studying music at the age of five, focusing on classical piano
. During the 1960s, Mayo's interest in music grew due to the rock explosion. His first band was Ramble and the Descendants, where he played organ
and sang. Mayo played with several other local bands and had plans to attend Juilliard School
in New York City. His career took a detour when he suffered injuries in a serious car accident at the age of seventeen, but Bob was determined and he was able to move on.
In 1971, Mayo formed Doc Holliday with Frank Carillo
, Tom Arlotta, and Bob Liggio. He then joined Rat Race Choir(73-74) one of the Tri-State area's best bands, playing guitar. He then left RRC, was replaced with Mark Hitt and teamed up with Peter Frampton and joined his touring band. Because of this, he appeared on Peter Frampton's album Frampton Comes Alive!
. It was on this recording that Peter Frampton introduced Mayo with the words "Bob Mayo on the keyboards... Bob Mayo," which has since become something of a legend among Peter Frampton fans. Mayo also appeared on the Peter Frampton albums I'm in You
and Where I Should Be
.
In 1980, Mayo left Peter Frampton's band to focus on recording. During this time, he recorded with Joe Walsh
and Joe Vitale
. Later he joined the touring band for Foreigner
and played keyboards on "Waiting for a Girl Like You
" and "Break It Up". He spent the next two years touring with Foreigner, and also toured with Dan Fogelberg
and Hall & Oates
in the late 1980s. He continued to tour with Hall & Oates until 1998.
In 1981, Mayo was asked by Joey Kramer
of Aerosmith to play keyboards in his band Renegade
fronted by vocalist Marge Raymond. In 1983, Mayo played keyboards live with Aerosmith
. Also in 1983, Mayo played in Robert Plant
's touring band for The Principle of Moments
world tour. The 2007 Rhino
re-issue of the The Principle of Moments contains three live tracks from that tour.
In 1992, Mayo returned to work with Peter Frampton. The resulting tour turned into the recording of the album Frampton Comes Alive! II. He also appeared on the Live in Detroit CD & DVD as well as Peter Frampton's 2003 recording Now.
On February 23, 2004, Mayo was touring with Peter Frampton in Basel
, Switzerland
, when he had a heart attack
and died promptly. Peter Frampton said after his death "Bob was like a brother to me. I have lost a close personal friend and a talented, professional and outstanding musician."
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, perhaps best known for his work with Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
.
Mayo was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and grew up in Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. He began studying music at the age of five, focusing on classical piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. During the 1960s, Mayo's interest in music grew due to the rock explosion. His first band was Ramble and the Descendants, where he played organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and sang. Mayo played with several other local bands and had plans to attend Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York City. His career took a detour when he suffered injuries in a serious car accident at the age of seventeen, but Bob was determined and he was able to move on.
In 1971, Mayo formed Doc Holliday with Frank Carillo
Frank Carillo
Frank Carillo is an American rock musician.- Doc Holliday :In 1971, manager Phil Lorito formed a band around Frank Carillo called Doc Holliday, with Carillo, Bob Mayo, Tom Arlotta and Bob Liggio...
, Tom Arlotta, and Bob Liggio. He then joined Rat Race Choir(73-74) one of the Tri-State area's best bands, playing guitar. He then left RRC, was replaced with Mark Hitt and teamed up with Peter Frampton and joined his touring band. Because of this, he appeared on Peter Frampton's album Frampton Comes Alive!
Frampton Comes Alive!
Frampton Comes Alive! is a double live album by English rock musician Peter Frampton released in 1976, and one of the best-selling live albums in the United States. Following four solo albums with little commercial success, Frampton Comes Alive! was a breakthrough for the artist.Released on January...
. It was on this recording that Peter Frampton introduced Mayo with the words "Bob Mayo on the keyboards... Bob Mayo," which has since become something of a legend among Peter Frampton fans. Mayo also appeared on the Peter Frampton albums I'm in You
I'm in You
I'm in You is the fifth studio album by Peter Frampton, released in 1977. Frampton returned from touring in 1976 to record this album. Stevie Wonder is also featured.-Background:...
and Where I Should Be
Where I Should Be
- Personnel :The line-up on this album was varied and did not consist solely of the previous Frampton band.*Donald "Duck" Dunn - bass*Tower of Power - horn section*Gary Mallaber - drums*Steve Forman - percussion*Jamie Oldaker - drums*Bob Mayo - keyboards...
.
In 1980, Mayo left Peter Frampton's band to focus on recording. During this time, he recorded with Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
and Joe Vitale
Joe Vitale (musician)
Joe Vitale is an American musician primarily known as a drummer but also a flautist, keyboardist and singer. He has played with many of the top names in music during a career dating back to the 1970s.-Biography:...
. Later he joined the touring band for Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
and played keyboards on "Waiting for a Girl Like You
Waiting for a Girl Like You
"Waiting for a Girl like You" is a song by British-American rock band Foreigner. The distinctive synthesizer theme was performed by the then-unknown Thomas Dolby.-Chart performance:...
" and "Break It Up". He spent the next two years touring with Foreigner, and also toured with Dan Fogelberg
Dan Fogelberg
Daniel Grayling "Dan" Fogelberg was an American singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, whose music was inspired by sources as diverse as folk, pop, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass music...
and Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
in the late 1980s. He continued to tour with Hall & Oates until 1998.
In 1981, Mayo was asked by Joey Kramer
Joey Kramer
Joseph Michael "Joey" Kramer is the drummer for the American hard rock band Aerosmith....
of Aerosmith to play keyboards in his band Renegade
Renegade (band)
Renegade is an American rock n' roll band composed of Luis Cardenas, Kenny Marquez and Tony De La Rosa. Although each member hails from the United States, the band is widely recognized as being the first Hispanic or "Chicano rock" band to gain acceptance in the United States. Throughout Latin...
fronted by vocalist Marge Raymond. In 1983, Mayo played keyboards live with Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
. Also in 1983, Mayo played in Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
's touring band for The Principle of Moments
The Principle of Moments
The Principle of Moments is the second solo album by former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant. It was Plant's second top 10 album in the US and UK. It also gave him his first solo Top 40 hit with "Big Log". The most popular track on album-oriented rock radio in the US was "Other Arms", which reached...
world tour. The 2007 Rhino
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
re-issue of the The Principle of Moments contains three live tracks from that tour.
In 1992, Mayo returned to work with Peter Frampton. The resulting tour turned into the recording of the album Frampton Comes Alive! II. He also appeared on the Live in Detroit CD & DVD as well as Peter Frampton's 2003 recording Now.
On February 23, 2004, Mayo was touring with Peter Frampton in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, when he had a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and died promptly. Peter Frampton said after his death "Bob was like a brother to me. I have lost a close personal friend and a talented, professional and outstanding musician."
Peter Frampton
- Frampton (1975)
- Frampton Comes Alive!Frampton Comes Alive!Frampton Comes Alive! is a double live album by English rock musician Peter Frampton released in 1976, and one of the best-selling live albums in the United States. Following four solo albums with little commercial success, Frampton Comes Alive! was a breakthrough for the artist.Released on January...
(1976) - I'm in YouI'm in YouI'm in You is the fifth studio album by Peter Frampton, released in 1977. Frampton returned from touring in 1976 to record this album. Stevie Wonder is also featured.-Background:...
(1977) - Where I Should BeWhere I Should Be- Personnel :The line-up on this album was varied and did not consist solely of the previous Frampton band.*Donald "Duck" Dunn - bass*Tower of Power - horn section*Gary Mallaber - drums*Steve Forman - percussion*Jamie Oldaker - drums*Bob Mayo - keyboards...
(1979) - Rise Up (1980)
- Peter FramptonPeter FramptonPeter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
(1994) - Frampton Comes Alive! IIFrampton Comes Alive! IIFrampton Comes Alive! II is a 1995 live album by English musician Peter Frampton. It is a sequel to his 1976 multiplatinum album Frampton Comes Alive. The title is styled as Frampton Comes Alive II on packaging....
]] (1995) - Live in Detroit (2000)
- Now (2003)
- Live in San Francisco March 24, 1975 (2004)
Procol Harum
- The Prodigal StrangerThe Prodigal StrangerThe Prodigal Stranger is an album by Procol Harum, released in 1991. The album is dedicated to the memory of Barrie James Wilson who had been the drummer on all of the group's previous albums....
(1991) (lead guitar on unreleased track "Into the Flood")