Bobby Floyd (musician)

Bobby Floyd (born December 24, 1954) is an American pianist, organist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer. Starting in the 1980s, he began a decades-long association with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. His playing style has been influenced by his church upbringing, and by pianist Erroll Garner.

Bobby Floyd
Floyd in 1979
Floyd in 1979
Background information
Born (1954-12-24) December 24, 1954
Marion, Ohio, U.S.
Genres
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards, organ
Years active1974–present
LabelsSummit/Chicken Coup, Cojazz, Gerard
Member ofColumbus Jazz Orchestra
Formerly ofCount Basie Orchestra

Early life

Bobby Floyd was born in Marion, Ohio, on December 24, 1954, the son of Vera and Bob Floyd.[1] He started playing piano at age two, and was discovered to have perfect pitch shortly after,[2] starting piano lessons with his tutor L. T. Dukes at five years old.[3] Floyd developed his technique from listening to records of Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, and Erroll Garner, and by age six played weekly at his local church.[4] Floyd would later meet Garner when he was 12.[2] In Marion Harding High School, Floyd played in a trio with Bruce Burton and future Columbus Jazz Orchestra drummer Bob Breithaupt, and studied with the piano teacher Maury Kline.[3][2] He moved to Columbus in 1973.[5]

Career

Floyd attended Ohio State University starting 1974, where he studied music education but did not graduate, playing with trumpeter Jeff Tyzik and saxophonist Vince Andrews.[2] In 1983, he recorded a series of TV specials, entitled "Special Request", which were syndicated on PBS.[6][7] From 1984 to 1985, Floyd played piano and organ across Europe and the US in Ray Charles's band, where he opened shows before Charles entered stage, but left the band when his daughter was born.[8][9] In 2004, Floyd took over as pianist in the Columbus Jazz Orchestra after the death of Hank Marr.[2] In 2012, Floyd joined the Count Basie Orchestra as a pianist, where he was featured on the Grammy-nominated album All About That Basie.[4]

Bobby Floyd currently tours in a trio with Doug DiCenzo on bass and guitar, and Reggie Jackson on drums.[10]

Personal life

Floyd lives in Powell, Ohio, with his wife, Marilyn. They have one daughter, singer Bobbi Townes.[2] One of his brothers, Vic Floyd, is also a pianist.[11]

Awards
  • 1986 – WBBY/Michelob "Jazz Search" Competition, as the Bobby Floyd Project, with Jeff Ciampa and Jim Rupp[12][13]
  • 2015 – Lincoln Theater "Walk of Fame" star on sidewalk, for Outstanding Contribution to Jazz[14]
  • 2018 – Grammy nomination with the Count Basie Orchestra All About That Jazz, pianist[4][15]
  • 2019 – Greater Columbus Arts Council Raymond J. Hanley Award[16]

Discography

Floyd's recordings include:[17]

As a leader
  • Interpretations (Gerard, 1986)[5]
  • Floyd's Finest Gift (CoJazz, 2001)
  • Setting the Standards (2001)
  • Notes To And From My Friends (Summit, 2007)

With Vince Andrews
  • Love, Oh Love (Gerard, 1983),[18]
  • Very Convincing (Gerard, 1986)[19]
  • Hey, Vince! (Gerard, 1986)[20]

With Christian Howes
  • Confluence (Self-released, 1997)
  • Ten Yard (Self-released, 1998)
  • Out Of The Blue (Resonance, 2010)

With others
  • Rusty Bryant – Rusty Rides Again (Phoenix Jazz, 1980)
  • Pete Mills – Art And Architecture (Summit, 2004)
  • Columbus Jazz Orchestra – The Colors Of Jazz (Self-released, 2004)[21]
  • Ansyn Banks – Banks Gives Thanks (Resonance, 2011)
  • Antonio Hart – Blessings (Jazz Legacy, 2015)
  • Bryan Olsheski – In The Moment (CoJazz, 2019)[22]
  • Rich Wiley – Conspiracy (Wise Cat, 2019)
  • Dr. John – Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch (Concord, 2019)
  • Rich Thompson – Who Do You Have To Know (Origin, 2023)[23]

References
  1. Carter, Andrew (June 9, 2023). "Jazz legend Bobby Floyd to headline Marion's Juneteenth celebration". The Marion Star. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  2. "A pleasure to behold as he joyfully plays keyboards, whether with an orchestra, or a trio, or in a church". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  3. Lowry, Tim (October 19, 1998). "'Five nights' Returns With Gifted Pianist". Marion Star. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  4. Karim, Hasan. "Marion native Bobby Floyd doesn't win Grammy, but relishes in ceremony". The Marion Star. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  5. McDaniel, Ted (1986). Interpretations (liner notes). Columbus, Ohio: Gerard Records. GR 2044.
  6. "WOSU: Our Station's Award Winners". wosu.org. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  7. "Columbus Makes Art Presents Mary McClendon and Her Life in Jazz - Columbus Underground". Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  8. "Bobby Floyd is a piano player's piano player". CITY Magazine. February 14, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  9. Houpe, Tobias. "Bobby Floyd, other musicians remember Ray Charles". Cincinnati Call and Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  10. "Bobby Floyd – Jazz Arts Group of Columbus". Jazz Arts Group Columbus. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  11. Moore, Kurt (June 24, 2005). "'Celebrate Summer' Event to take over downtown". Marion Star. p. 1.
  12. "Jazz group has Mansfield Gig March 6". Mansfield News-Journal. February 23, 1992. p. 9.
  13. "Bobby Floyd Music will fill union hall for July 18 concert". Marion Star. June 26, 1987. p. 41.
  14. "Columbus landmark theater honors Marion native Floyd". The Marion Star. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  15. "Bobby Floyd". MarionMade. February 7, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  16. Goldstein, Jami (July 25, 2019). "Pianist and Organist Bobby Floyd to Receive 2019 Raymond J. Hanley Award". Greater Columbus Arts Council. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  17. Bobby Floyd at AllMusic
  18. Andrews, Vince (1986). Love, Oh Love (liner notes). Gerard Records. GR 1001.
  19. Andrews, Vince (1986). Very Convincing (liner notes). Gerard Records. GR 1033.
  20. Andrews, Vince (1986). Hey, Vince! (liner notes). Gerard Records. GR 1022.
  21. The Colors Of Jazz (liner notes). 1986.
  22. "Local music limelight: Bryan Olsheski". dispatch.com. Columbus Dispatch. March 21, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2023. The musician, who has performed with dozens of jazz artists and ensembles, including the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, tapped Bobby Floyd, Reggie Jackson, Derek DiCenzo, Kevin Turner and Jim Powell for his second album, "Bryan Olsheski: In the Moment."
  23. McClenaghan, Dan (March 26, 2023). "Rich Thompson: Who Do You Have to Know? album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
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