Bob Havens
Encyclopedia
Bob Havens is an American
big band
and jazz
musician who appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show
from 1960 to 1982. His instrument is the trombone
.
Born to a musical family in Quincy, Illinois
. He began studying violin
and trombone
at age seven and played both instruments throughout his school years. He landed his first professional job with a local dance band at age 12. By the age of 16, his talent as a trombonist was recognized with a scholarship from the Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan
and Bob held the first trombone chair in the school's 250 piece concert band. He later held the first trombone chair in the Quincy Symphony while also playing in many popular dance groups in Illinois.
After serving in the Illinois National Guard
as a bandsman during the Korean War
, he left Quincy in 1955 to tour with the Ralph Flanagan
Orchestra. In 1956, he joined George Girard
's Dixieland Band at the Famous Door in New Orleans. There, he met his idol, Jack Teagarden
.
In 1957, Bob joined Al Hirt
at Dan's Pier 600 on Bourbon Street
when Hirt formed his very first band. The front line consisted of Hirt, Havens and Pete Fountain
. During the time in New Orleans, he recorded albums for Good Times Jazz and Vic
labels with the Girrad band and on Verve
and Audio Fidelity with Hirt. He also recorded about a dozen albums for the Southland
label with many other New Orleans musicians.
Bob stayed with this group until 1960 when he was persuaded to move to the West Coast and join the Lawrence Welk
Orchestra as a featured soloist on their weekly TV series. His brilliant tenure with this show lasted for 23 years until the show ended in 1982.
Since then, he continued to be active as a free-lance professional working often with the Bob Crosby
Bob Cats and the Benny Goodman
Orchestra (led by clarinetist Peanuts Hucko
). From 1985 to 1995, Havens played with the Great Pacific Jazz Band along with Bob Ringwald (lead vocals/piano), Don Nelson (saxophone), and Zeke Zarchy
(trumpet).
Recently in 2005, he performed with the North Carolina Pops Orchestra at Campbell University
with fellow Welk star Ava Barber
for a benefit raising money for victims of Hurricane Katrina
.
Bob Havens lives in Maywood, Missouri. He continues to record and appear at jazz festivals and concerts throughout the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
and jazz
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...
musician who appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years , then nationally for another 27 years via the ABC network and first-run syndication .In the years since first-run syndication...
from 1960 to 1982. His instrument is the trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
.
Born to a musical family in Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
. He began studying violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
at age seven and played both instruments throughout his school years. He landed his first professional job with a local dance band at age 12. By the age of 16, his talent as a trombonist was recognized with a scholarship from the Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and Bob held the first trombone chair in the school's 250 piece concert band. He later held the first trombone chair in the Quincy Symphony while also playing in many popular dance groups in Illinois.
After serving in the Illinois National Guard
Illinois National Guard
The Illinois National Guard comprises both Army National Guard and Air National Guard components. The National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and...
as a bandsman during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, he left Quincy in 1955 to tour with the Ralph Flanagan
Ralph Flanagan
Ralph Flanagan , was a famed big band leader, conductor, pianist, composer, and arranger for the orchestras of Hal McIntyre, Sammy Kaye, Blue Barron, Charlie Barnet, and Alvino Rey.-Biography:He was educated at Lorain High School, where he was a member of the National Honors...
Orchestra. In 1956, he joined George Girard
George Girard
George Girard was a New Orleans jazz trumpeter. He was known for his great technical ability, playing in a style that combined traditional New Orleans Dixieland jazz with the big-band-style trumpet, and a member of the Basin Street Six.Girard was born in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana...
's Dixieland Band at the Famous Door in New Orleans. There, he met his idol, Jack Teagarden
Jack Teagarden
Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden , known as "Big T" and "The Swingin' Gate", was an influential jazz trombonist, bandleader, composer, and vocalist, regarded as the "Father of Jazz Trombone".-Early life:...
.
In 1957, Bob joined Al Hirt
Al Hirt
Al Hirt was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million selling recordings of "Java", and the accompanying album, Honey in the Horn . His nicknames included 'Jumbo' and 'The Round Mound of Sound'...
at Dan's Pier 600 on Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is a famous and historic street that spans the length of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. When founded in 1718, the city was originally centered around the French Quarter...
when Hirt formed his very first band. The front line consisted of Hirt, Havens and Pete Fountain
Pete Fountain
Pete Fountain , is an American clarinetist based in New Orleans. He has played jazz, Dixieland and Creole music.-Early life and education:...
. During the time in New Orleans, he recorded albums for Good Times Jazz and Vic
Vic
Vic is the capital of the comarca of Osona, in the Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain. Vic's location, only 69 km far from Barcelona and 60 km from Girona, has made it one of the most important towns in central Catalonia.-History:...
labels with the Girrad band and on Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
and Audio Fidelity with Hirt. He also recorded about a dozen albums for the Southland
Southland Records
Southland Records is a New Orleans, Louisiana based independent record label.Southland was founded c.1948 by Joeseph P. Mares. Mares was the an amateur jazz clarinetist, and the younger brother of noted jazz cornetist Paul Mares...
label with many other New Orleans musicians.
Bob stayed with this group until 1960 when he was persuaded to move to the West Coast and join the Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
Orchestra as a featured soloist on their weekly TV series. His brilliant tenure with this show lasted for 23 years until the show ended in 1982.
Since then, he continued to be active as a free-lance professional working often with the Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby
George Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
Bob Cats and the Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
Orchestra (led by clarinetist Peanuts Hucko
Peanuts Hucko
Michael Andrew "Peanuts" Hucko was an American big band musician. His primary instrument was the clarinet.-Early life and education:...
). From 1985 to 1995, Havens played with the Great Pacific Jazz Band along with Bob Ringwald (lead vocals/piano), Don Nelson (saxophone), and Zeke Zarchy
Zeke Zarchy
Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy was an American lead trumpet player of the big band and swing eras.He joined the Joe Haymes orchestra in 1934, then played with Benny Goodman in 1936 and Artie Shaw in 1937...
(trumpet).
Recently in 2005, he performed with the North Carolina Pops Orchestra at Campbell University
Campbell University
Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of...
with fellow Welk star Ava Barber
Ava Barber
Ava Barber is an American country music singer and performer. She is best remembered for having performed on The Lawrence Welk Show throughout much of the 1970s and early 1980s....
for a benefit raising money for victims of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
Bob Havens lives in Maywood, Missouri. He continues to record and appear at jazz festivals and concerts throughout the world.