Keyboardist, songwriter, singer, producer...
Bobby Wells music is best described as: feel good, warm, soulful, energetic, and passionate. He blends tasty hints of Caribbean and Latin rythms with his roots of funk, pop and jazz into sweet Smooth Jazz vibe.
Bobby's passion has always been to create & compose music and lyrics that soothe the soul. In fact this L.A. based producer /songwriter's music has been coined as feel-good music . He received a call and letter from the White House and Tippor Gore in 1993 for his community work and song "JUST BELIEVE IT." Bobby's first album "Wait a Minute" written and produced by himself, was released in 1994. Bobby's success story reached new heights in 1997 as he performed for President Clinton and 7 other world leaders.
KHIH (95.7/Denver, CO) "BAND OF THE YEAR"...voted by the KHIH radio staff and the people's choice after a dynamic and electrifying performance.
Wells was called on by Major League Baseball and the Colorado Rockies to perform his song "A True Hero" and "Just Believe It" for the 50th Anniversary Tribute to Jackie Robinson, with Jackie's wife Rachel Robinson and Buck O' Neil in attendance. Bobby also created Colorado's first family baseball CD, "Born To Go The Distance" (his second CD), supported by Hershey's and King Soopers, both major sponsors for the Rockets All Star Game season in 1998. Yvonne Brown joined Bobby in singing the National Anthem at the Home Run Derby which was part of the All Star Celebration.
Bobby's previous CD "It's About Time" features on saxophoneKIRK WHALUM and NELSON RANGELL. JONATHAN WIDRAN writes in JAZZIZ magazine.. "Wells" - experiments with synth sounds and rhythmic possibilities with the aplomb of George Duke." Another quote by JONATHAN WIDRAN for Bobby's present release - "BAYSIDE CD" "immediately likeable results featuring Eric Marienthal and Michael O'Neill."
Bobby was presented with a proclamation from Denver, CO, Mayor Wellington Webb establishing August 10th, 1998 as
"BOBBY WELLS DAY"
Bobby Grew up in North Omaha on the 37th street and Paxton Blvd. In school he chose, as his first instrument, the trombone. Bobby says "I got a clue real quick...that having asthma and living at Hattie B. Monroe, Children's & Immanuel hospitals most every week-end, playing the trombone was not going to work. You need a lot of wind". "As a kid I lived under oxygen tents ut I had my AM Radio (I repeat AM-KOIL) and loved listening to it." Bobby says "all kinds of music was played on that one station."
As a teen I began plucking out melodies on the church piano at Greater New Hope Baptist, along side cousin and organist Keith Rogers., with two fingers until I could make a song, but playing drums was more natural."
"I listened to musicians like Billy Cobham, Lenny White, Steve Gadd and Herbie Hancock, and became a real timekeeper." I also listened to melody greats such as Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Michael McDonald, EWF& M. Jackson which helped me learn how to hook.
Bobby moved to Denver in 1979 and began playing drums for raggae bands doing covers for of Bob Marley, Steele Pulse and Third World. But after a few years of band members not showing up for practice and and making $7 -$12.00 (or a chicken dinner) a concert, he thought it best to raise his family and keep his day job at the phone company. "I had a wonderful time raising my family , the memories with my wife Kathy and the little ones are priceless and remain in my heart."
As "Smooth Jazz began to pickup steam he began listening to guys like George Benson, Earl Klugh, Lee Ritenour, Bob James, and Spyra Gyra. Bobby practiced writing 1-2 songs a week. About 1993 he met his good friend and Blues singer James VanBuren who heard his music and said "man, you need to get out of this corner and let other people hear your music" Since then Bobby has been a "Smooth Jazz Artist" as well as producing & writing for other artist, major corporations in L.A and doing very well.
