Bobby Lyle
Encyclopedia
Bobby Lyle is a jazz
, soul jazz
, and smooth jazz
pianist. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee
but grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota
in a home near the corner of Park Avenue and 32nd Street. His father, reportedly, was a sports writer for the Star Tribune
newspaper.
He had his first gig at 16 and played in the 1960s with Gene and Jerry Hubbard in the Bobby Lyle Trio. They were very popular at the Blue Note on Plymouth Avenue on Minneapolis' North Side, and at the Ebony Lounge on University Avenue in St. Paul. When Ramsey Lewis
left the Trio which he started and made famous, Lyle became the keyboard player for Young Holt Unlimited.
In 1970, he had a meeting and subsequent jam session with Jimi Hendrix
who was planning on starting a jazz-rock group with Lyle and fellow Minnesotans Willie Weeks
and Bill Lordan
as the rhythm section before his death later that year.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1974 and soon went on the road with Sly and the Family Stone. During this time he also had a stint with the Ronnie Laws
band. This led to a meeting with Wayne Henderson
of the Jazz Crusaders who then took him to Capitol Records for his first solo recording deal in 1977. After three albums ("The Genie", "New Warrior", and "Night Fire"), Capitol abandoned their jazz division. Without a record deal, Lyle returned to his sideman work in 1981 with George Benson
. In that same year he was a guest artist on the Yellowjackets
debut LP.
Extensive tours with Bette Midler
, Al Jarreau
, and Anita Baker
(all as musical director) occupied most of his time in the eighties. While performing with saxophonist Gerald Albright
in 1987, Bobby came to the attention of Sylvia Rhone, then VP of Jazz and Urban music at Atlantic Records
. This resulted in a recording deal in 1988 which spawned six albums in nine years. In the meantime, Lyle continued to tour with his own bands as well as with Bette Midler
. He received an Emmy nomination for his musical direction on her HBO Special, "Diva Las Vegas" in 1997. He currently lives in Houston, Texas
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, soul jazz
Soul jazz
Soul jazz is a development of jazz incorporating strong influences from blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues in music for small groups, often an organ trio featuring a Hammond organ.- Overview :Soul jazz is often associated with hard bop. Mark C...
, and smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
pianist. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
but grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
in a home near the corner of Park Avenue and 32nd Street. His father, reportedly, was a sports writer for the Star Tribune
Star Tribune
The Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The...
newspaper.
He had his first gig at 16 and played in the 1960s with Gene and Jerry Hubbard in the Bobby Lyle Trio. They were very popular at the Blue Note on Plymouth Avenue on Minneapolis' North Side, and at the Ebony Lounge on University Avenue in St. Paul. When Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. is an American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality. Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received seven gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.-Biography:...
left the Trio which he started and made famous, Lyle became the keyboard player for Young Holt Unlimited.
In 1970, he had a meeting and subsequent jam session with Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
who was planning on starting a jazz-rock group with Lyle and fellow Minnesotans Willie Weeks
Willie Weeks
Willie Weeks is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also gained notoriety touring with many of rock's heavyweights throughout his career...
and Bill Lordan
Bill Lordan
Bill Lordan is a rock music drummer who has been in a number of bands, such as The Mystics, Gypsy, and Robin Trower Band.-Discography:* 1971 Gypsy: In the Garden* 1972 Gypsy: Antithesis* 1973 Gypsy: Unlock the Gates...
as the rhythm section before his death later that year.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1974 and soon went on the road with Sly and the Family Stone. During this time he also had a stint with the Ronnie Laws
Ronnie Laws
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Laws is an American jazz, blues and funk saxophonist. He is the younger brother of jazz flautist Hubert Laws.-Biography:...
band. This led to a meeting with Wayne Henderson
Wayne Henderson (musician)
Wayne Henderson is a soul-jazz and hard bop trombonist and record producer. In 1961, he co-founded the soul jazz/hard bop group The Jazz Crusaders...
of the Jazz Crusaders who then took him to Capitol Records for his first solo recording deal in 1977. After three albums ("The Genie", "New Warrior", and "Night Fire"), Capitol abandoned their jazz division. Without a record deal, Lyle returned to his sideman work in 1981 with George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
. In that same year he was a guest artist on the Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets is an American jazz fusion/smooth jazz quartet.-History:The original group, called The Robben Ford Group, was formed in 1977, and consisted of Robben Ford, Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Ricky Lawson, all top-notch L.A. session musicians...
debut LP.
Extensive tours with Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
, Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
, and Anita Baker
Anita Baker
Anita Baker is an American R&B/soul jazz singer-songwriter. To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards, and has four platinum albums and two gold albums to her credit....
(all as musical director) occupied most of his time in the eighties. While performing with saxophonist Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright is an American jazz saxophonist.Albright has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone. His self-produced music features him on bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming, and background vocals.- Biography :...
in 1987, Bobby came to the attention of Sylvia Rhone, then VP of Jazz and Urban music at Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. This resulted in a recording deal in 1988 which spawned six albums in nine years. In the meantime, Lyle continued to tour with his own bands as well as with Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
. He received an Emmy nomination for his musical direction on her HBO Special, "Diva Las Vegas" in 1997. He currently lives in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
Discography
| Title | |Year | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Lyle Plays | 1974 | CBS Japan Sony Music Entertainment Japan is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry.... The GX 1 |
|
| The Genie | 1977 | Capitol Capitol Records Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine... |
|
| New Warrior | 1978 | Capitol | |
| Night Fire | 1979 | Capitol | |
| Night Breeze | 1985 | Evidence | |
| Ivory Dreams | 1989 | Atlantic Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
|
| The Journey | 1990 | Atlantic | |
| Pianomagic | 1991 | Atlantic | |
| Secret Island | 1992 | Atlantic | |
| Best of Bobby Lyle | 1993 | Blue Note Blue Note Records Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters... /Capitol |
|
| Rhythm Stories | 1994 | Atlantic | |
| Power of Touch | 1997 | Atlantic | |
| Joyful | 2002 | Three Keys | |
| Straight and Smooth | 2004 | Three Keys | |
| Hands On | 2006 | Heads Up |
External links
- [ All Music] Retrieved 23 September 2006
- Jazz monthly review Retrieved 23 September 2006