| Bob Boyd produced and
performed on his own live radio show series in 1952 at the age of 16. He
played original piano stylings of requested tunes called in and written
in by his radio audience. He traveled with several professional gospel music
groups, then in 1955 was engaged by Jim Ed Brown and the Brown
Family Trio. This led to engagements in New Orleans and St.
Louis as a solo performer of piano stylings, and as a member of several
pop and jazz groups. He returned to Arkansas in 1957 and accepted a position
on the teaching staff of Rosen Music Studios. There, he taught accordion
for five years and founded and was co-leader of "The Blue Notes"
with Joe Brandt, who was well known as "Mr. Guitar"
in central Arkansas. In 1962 Bob founded BOYD MUSIC CENTER, a music school and store, which he owned and operated for 38 years. With Pat Lee, former clarinetist with the Glen Gray Casa Loma Band, in 1963 he founded the Pastels, a trio featuring accordion, clarinet and drums. This group appeared frequently at the Davy Crockett Club in Little Rock, Little Rock Country Club and many other venues. In 1966 he founded the BOB BOYD TRIO with drummer Herman Branton and bassist Bill Nelson. They played the then-popular Ramsey Lewis "In Crowd" style which has a strong black gospel flavor. The trio was expanded later to be called "THE BOB BOYD SOUND," with the addition of guitar and sometimes trumpet, the SOUND played hundreds of wedding receptions, golf tournaments, club dances and other special occasions from 1966 to 1978. Bob then joined the Joe Holland Dixieland Band in 1980 and played regularly at Cajun's Wharf. From 1983 to 1988 he played the piano and tenor banjo with the Happytymes Jazzband at the S.O.B. On The River, with whom he traveled To Sacramento, California to represent the state of Arkansas in the 15th Annual International Traditional Jazz Festival. Bob then took a sabbatical and played with a variety of groups including country, 50s rock and gospel. In 1990, with David Higginbotham and Randy McDonald, he re-formed the BOB BOYD TRIO. For 6 years, they played private parties and provided the music for the Unity Church of Little Rock. As a solo piano stylist, Bob has recently presented well-received informal solo piano concert talks, in which he plays an all request program interspersed with anecdotes about how the tunes came to be written. His versatile TRIO includes David Higginbotham, bassist, who is a fine vocalist and does many current pop and contemporary tunes, and Randy McDonald, who plays drums and also provides vocals. He also strolls with his accordion or his banjo when the occasion calls for it, for outdoor affairs and picnics, and does vocal renditions when requested. With the welcome addition of Sim Flora on trombone, flute and vocals, The TRIO has now expanded to 4 members, and perform many original songs, as well as 4-part vocal arrangements. Bob Boyd is now approaching his seventh decade of pleasing his listeners. His music provides an atmosphere of elegance for wedding receptions and private parties of all types. He also presents a well-received informal piano concert, playing and singing all requests, and giving informative and entertaining stories about the songs and the composers. He plays original stylings of familiar and memorable standard tunes, and an all-request program of dance music and showtunes from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. | |