Bob James
Jazz
The next Bob James concert is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025 at Middle C Jazz in Charlotte, NC, United States. See all 5 upcoming concerts
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About Bob James
Hometown
Marshall, MO, United States
Born
December 25, 1939
Genre
Jazz
Keyboardist Bob James is one of the most popular smooth-jazz musicians ever, but that’s not the entirety of his story. Born in Missouri in 1939, James was a child prodigy on piano, turning pro in the ’50s. His Quincy Jones-produced 1963 debut album, Bold Conceptions, was a brash mix of bebop and avant-garde jazz, while the follow-up was a full-on free-jazz exploration. His next couple of releases mixed experimental impulses with the fusion of jazz, pop, and funk that would soon make him famous. By 1978’s Touchdown (which featured “Angela,” his hugely popular theme for TV’s Taxi), he’d perfected that radio-friendly sound. James remained a smooth-jazz star thereafter, but detours into classical music showed he still had an eclectic soul. In the ’90s he formed the long-lasting supergroup Fourplay with Lee Ritenour, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason. Over time, James’ funky grooves became frequent hip-hop fodder, making him one of the most sampled jazz artists.
Bob James has also released music as a member of Fourplay and Bob James Trio.
Musical InfluencesBob James's musical influences include Vince Guaraldi, Gene Harris, Erroll Garner and more.
Influenced by Bob JamesBob James has influenced the music of Jim Brickman, JAY-Z, Boney James and more.
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