Well if great art comes only from an intimate knowledge of failure --
someday someone somewhere will care about my work. Until then I will
leave you with the my central lyric (and a riddle too!) for an opera I
just completed.
What am I?
I am lost in a shimmering sea.
So vast.
I amount to a wink of whimsy.
This blink.
My purls of work.
Bottled.
Then, readied for refraction.
In sun.
I tinkle.
A bulbous burst.
My pearl of light chatters: Awake! Ecstasy!
Rapid zigzag race.
To filial lair.
Or paste.
Jerry
On 31-Dec-04, at 2:02 PM, Bob Florence wrote:
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 10:52:02 -0800
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], Jazz Westcoast
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Bandstand
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
From: Bob Florence <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Who are you? - my turn
Cc:
Bcc:
X-Attachments:
Hi all:
Since I was the instigator of the "Who are you" thread, it is now my
turn.
I was born in Los Angeles, California, May 20,1932. I live in
Thousand Oaks, Ca. I am married to My very special person, Evelyn.
Between us, we have four children and eight grandchildren.
Somehow my mother discovered that I had perfect pitch and started me
on piano two months before I turned five. I gave my first full scale
piano recital when I was seven. I learned much of the standard
repertoire and was seriously headed toward a concert pianist career.
However, I could play many tunes of the day by ear and I always loved
big bands and jazz. After high school, I went ot Los Angeles City as a
music major. With me was our very own Finale expert, Hal Owen. We were
the "state of the art" two piano team.
I took all of the regular courses (harmony, counterpoint, music
appreciation, etc. I took a class in arranging and orchestration from
Bob McDonald who had a firm grasp on what he taught. He, however had
a jazz background. It was here that my life took a hard "left".
Because of my keen interest in jazz, I was invited to join the jazz
band. I was there with Lanny Morgan, Tommy Tedesco and Dennis
Budimir. I got deeply involved in the jazz literature and the concert
pianist was forgotten. My mother was heart broken. However, that
changed on the day I came home with an lp with a credit on it.
In college, a friend and I formed a rehearsal band comprised of our
friends in school. This was a very important step for me because it
gave me the chance to hear what I wrote. I have always considered
this to be most important for me along with money as a reward for my
work.
My career broke wid open because of an arrangement of "Up A Laz
River" done for Si Zentner"s big band. This was a huge breakthrough
for me as it opened so many doors. It allowed me towrite for the big
bands of Harry James, Les Brown, Louie Bellson and the Tonight Show
band.
I also worked with singers Julie Andrews, Vikki Carr, Jack Jones and
Frank Sinotra.
I have always kept the big band going. In 1981 I renamed it "The Bob
Florence Limited Edition".
I have recorded thirteen big band albums (cds). I have Grammy and two
Emmys.
I have been a Mac Finale user since version 3.0. I never use a piano.
I never sketch. That for me is like having to write it twice. I
compose and arrange directly in the computer. I started Finale so I
wouldn't have to have a copiest. I also have terrible penmanship.
I am NOT retired because music has brought me so much joy.
I want to thank you all for responding to my "Who Are You" thread.
What shall we do next?
Bob Florence
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