Howard Roberts

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Howard Roberts (2 October 1929 – 28 June 1992) was an influential American jazz guitarist, educator and session musician. Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and began playing guitar at age 8. By the time he was 15 he was playing professionally locally.

In 1950 he moved to Los Angeles. There, with the assistance of Jack Marshall, he began playing with musicians including Bobby Troup, Chico Hamilton and Barney Kessel. In about 1956, Bobby Troup signed him to Verve Records as a solo artist. Around that time he decided to concentrate on recording, both as a solo artist and session musician, a direction he would continue until the early 1970s.

Roberts played rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass and mandolin, both in the studio and for television and movie projects, including lead guitar in the theme from The Twilight Zone, guitar on the theme from The Munsters and rhythm guitar on the theme from I Dream of Jeannie.

Artists Roberts backed included Georgie Auld, Peggy Lee (Fever), Eddie Cochran (Sittin In The Balcony), Bobby Day (Rockin Robin), Jody Reynolds (Endless Sleep), Shelley Fabares (Johnny Angel), Dean Martin (Houston), The Monkees, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, and The Electric Prunes.

In 1963, Roberts recorded Color Him Funky and H.R. Is A Dirty Guitar Player, his first two albums after signing with Capitol. Produced by Jack Marshall, they both feature the same quartet of with Roberts (guitar), Chuck Berghofer (bass), Earl Palmer (drums) and Paul Bryant alternating with Burkley Kendrix on organ. In all he recorded nine albums with Capitol before signing with ABC Records/Impulse! Records.

From the late 1960s, Roberts began to focus on teaching rather than recording. He travelled around the country giving guitar seminars, and wrote several instructional books. For some years he also wrote an acclaimed column Jazz Improvisation for Guitar Player magazine. To support his teaching activities, he founded the Guitar Institute of Technology, and Playback Publishing.

Roberts died in 1992. His wife Patty, also active in musical education and curriculum development, continued in this field after his death.

Contents

[edit] Discography

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[edit] As leader

  • Good Pickin's (1959)
  • Color Him Funky (1963)
  • H.R. Is A Dirty Guitar Player (1963)
  • The Real Howard Roberts (1977)

[edit] As sideman

[edit] See also

  • Organ trio, a type of small jazz ensemble in which Roberts often performed

[edit] External links