08. Bob Dorough

On this episode, two of my close friends (Mike Coleman and Andrew Dorsett) joined me to discuss a mutual hero, Bob Dorough (December 12, 1923 – April 23, 2018). You may not know his name, but you've heard him sing.
Bob, a pianist, vocalist, songwriter and producer, made his entrance into the jazz world bringing his unconventional "country" singing voice into the burgeoning bebop scene in the 1950s. He's best known for his pop sensibilities as the primary songwriter for the classic childrens' animated show Schoolhouse Rock, but he has also worked with artists like Miles Davis, the Holy Modal Rounders, and Dave Frishberg. As guest co-host Mike (who met Bob a couple times before his passing) puts it: "He's the hipster saint. He's the bop legend. He's the grandfather of the love of the son of the hip magic that sprinkles all over the earth that keeps us all livin' and growin'. He's BOB DOROUGH."

Recommendations:

Bob's vocal contribution to Miles Davis's 1966 "Sorcerer" album, "Nothing Like You:"

Bob's beloved 1973 Schoolhouse Rock song "Three Is A Magic Number"

Here's a live performance of his standard "Just About Everything," with bassist Doug Smith.