Bob DeVos
| |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert W. DeVos |
| Born | 1946 (age 77–78) Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, educator |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Labels | Savant |
| Website | bobdevosjazzguitar |
His style combines blues, rhythm and blues, and jazz.[4] "I wanted to play like B.B. King and Chuck Berry", DeVos said.[5] At twelve, he began playing guitar, listening to and learning solos from his brother's R&B records. He took lessons from Joe Cinderella.[5] In high school he became interested in jazz after hearing albums by organist Jimmy Smith with guitarist Kenny Burrell and the album The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery.[5] After graduating, he went on tour with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and took lessons from Harry Leahey and Dennis Sandole.[5][4] In 1969 he got a job with Trudy Pitts after it was vacated by Pat Martino[5][6] and toured extensively.[7] His recording career began with a 1970 music session.[2] Beginning in the late 1970s, he was a member of bands led by Gerry Niewood, Teo Macero,[5] Jimmy McGriff,[8] and Charles Earland.[5] Earland produced his first album for Savant.[5] He has also worked with Harry Allen, Freddy Cole, Junior Cook, Joey DeFrancesco, Kenny Drew Jr., Etta Jones, Gene Ludwig, Ron McClure, David "Fathead" Newman, Greg Osby, Houston Person, Irene Reid, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dave Stryker, Stanley Turrentine.[5][4]
He is an adjunct professor at the private college Lehigh University.[2] He was the organizer for the Organ Summit in Newark, New Jersey.[9]
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