More Bob Grabeau Vocals - Select List
ca.1948-1949
Ah, But It Happens, with orchestra conducted by Mario Ruiz Armengol, Capitol
Transcriptions A-84
Dainty Brenda Lee, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-87
Dreamy Old New England Moon, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-90
Everybody Loves Somebody, with orchestra conducted by Mario Ruiz Armengol, Capitol
Transcriptions A-84
Hankerin', with orchestra conducted by Mario Ruiz Armengol, Capitol Transcriptions A-83
Have You Change for a Dream, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-89
I Get Lonely in the Rain, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-90
If I Steal a Kiss, with orchestra conducted by Mario Ruiz Armengol, Capitol Transcriptions
A-84
In a Market Place of Old Monterey, with orchestra conducted by Mario Ruiz Armengol,
Capitol Transcriptions A-83
Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly), with orchestra conducted by Mario Ruiz Armengol, Capitol
Transcriptions A-84
Melancholy Minstrel, The, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-88
Once and for Always, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-90
Once in Love with Amy, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-87
Portrait of Jenny, A, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-88
Rosewood Spinet, A, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-88
Say It Isn't So, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-87
So Dear to My Heart, with orchestra conducted by Mario Ruiz Armengol, Capitol
Transcriptions A-83
Strawberry Moon (In a Blueberry Sky), A, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-88
Streets of Laredo, The, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-89
Tarra Ta-larra Ta-lar, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-87
These Will Be the Best Years of Our Lives, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-89
Underneath the Linden Tree, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-89
What Did I Do, with orchestra conducted by Mario Ruiz Armengol, Capitol Transcriptions
A-83
When Is Summertime, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-90
While the Angelus Was Ringing, Capitol Transcriptions A-90
You Say the Wildest Things Baby, with orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions A-89
1949-1950
Blossoms On the Bough, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 57-771
Christmas Waltz, The, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 57-90011
Dancing with Tears in My Eyes, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 925
Deck the Halls, with ensemble and Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol
Deep Night, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 925
Farewell Waltz, The, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 54/57-674
Farewell Waltz, The, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions B-437
Heart of Loch Lomond, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 57-630
Here Comes Santa Claus, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 57-90012
Here Lies Love, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions B-466
Hold Me, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions B-440
I Don't Want to Be Kissed, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 870
I Didn't Know What Time It Was, Capitol 37/652
I'd Love to Live in Loveland, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions
B-439
Isn't It Romantic, Capitol 37/652
Making Love Ukelele Style, with ensemble and Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol
57-712
Now That I Need You, (Where Are You?), with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol
57-719
Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey, with Kitty Thomas and Jan Garber and His Orchestra,
Capitol Transcriptions B-465
Roll Pony, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions B-438
There's Everything Nice About You, (There's Something Nice About Everyone But),
with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions B-465
There's No Getting Away From You, with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-439
Wilhelmina, with ensemble and Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 870
Winter Wonderland, with quartet and Jan Garber and His Orchestra, Capitol 57-90013
ca.1951-1952
All Or Nothing At All, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-494
Almost Like Being in Love, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-504
Always in My Heart, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-503
Autumn Serenade, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions
B-487
Be Still My Heart, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-402
Beat o'My Heart, The, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions
B-406
Blue (and Broken Hearted), with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-405
Blue Rain, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions B-494
Bright Lights and Blonde Haired Women, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra,
Capitol Transcriptions B-488
Careless, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions B-503
Could Be, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions B-488
Darn That Dream, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-493
Day Dreaming, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-493
Don't Take Your Love From Me, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-401
Down the Old Ox Road, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions
B-405
Farewell to Arms, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-403
Funny About a Dream, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-488
Give a Broken Heart a Break, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-403
Guilty, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions B-503
Have a Little Faith in Me, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions
B-402
Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue), with orchestra conducted by
Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-405
I Apologize, Capitol Transcriptions B-368
I Didn't Know What Time It Was, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-406
I Don't Want to Set the World On Fire, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra,
Capitol Transcriptions B-504
I Know Why (And So Do You), with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-487
I Wonder What Became of Sally, Capitol Transcriptions B-368
I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (If I Knew I'd Find You), with orchestra conducted by
Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-406
I'll Be Around, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions
B-504
I'll Be Seeing You, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-503
I'll Never Forget I Love You, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-402
I'll String Along with You, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-494
In the Blue of Evening, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-487
Isn't It Romantic, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-404
It Made You Happy When You Made Me Cry, Capitol Transcriptions B-367
It Was Nice While It Lasted, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-488
It's Always You, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions
B-487
It's Been a Long, Long Time, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-404
Just for the Ride, Capitol Transcriptions B-367
Just Like a Butterfly (That's Caught in the Rain), with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre,
Capitol Transcriptions B-403
Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky, Capitol Transcriptions B-368
Lights Out, Capitol Transcriptions B-367
Love Is Gone, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions
B-488
Love Letters in the Sand, Capitol Transcriptions B-368
Maria Elena, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions
B-494
Marie, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-406
May I Never Love Again, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-504
Moon Song, Capitol Transcriptions B-368
More I See You, The, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-504
My Fate is in Your Hands, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-404
My Last Goodbye, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-503
My Mom, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-401
My Prayer, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-494
My Silent Love, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-404
My Sin, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-401
Old Guitar and an Old Refrain, An, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-404
Over Somebody Else's Shoulder, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-405
Precious Little Thing Called Love, A, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-405
Sand, Capitol Transcriptions B-367
Thank You for a Lovely Evening, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre,
Capitol Transcriptions B-401
That's All That Matters to Me, (I Only Know That I Love You), with orchestra conducted by
Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions B-406
Throw Another Log On the Fire, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-403
This Love of Mine, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol Transcriptions
B-487
Try a Little Tenderness, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol Transcriptions
B-402
When Did You Leave Heaven, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre, Capitol
Transcriptions B-401
Why Is It, Capitol Transcriptions B-367
Willow Weep for Me, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-493
With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair, with orchestra conducted by Serge Dupre,
Capitol Transcriptions B-403
You and I, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-493
You'll Never Know, with Claude Gordon, His Trumpet and Orchestra, Capitol
Transcriptions B-493
ca.mid to late 1950s
Angel Town, with Horace Heidt and His Orchestra, Magnolia 1
Back to School Back to You, Crest [as "Bobby Grabeau & Teenettes" ]
Bells of St. Augustine, The, Festival 1000
Charge Baseball, with Horace Heidt and His Orchestra, Magnolia 1
Don't Ever Let Me Go, Crest [as "Bobby Grabeau & Teenettes" ]
Gold, Coral 61895, recorded Sept. 12, 1957
Horses and Hats, Festival 1000
Lu Le La, Coral 61895, recorded Sept. 12, 1957
Olita, Crest 1059
Put Me in Your Pocket, with April Stevens, Scopitone jukebox film loop
There's Something About Your..., Crest 1059
1960s
Diane, arr. & cond. by Joe Leahy, Record Producers Corp. (LP titled "The Wonderful
Teens" )
For Now, For Always, with vocal group and Music by Camarata, Vista F-380, 1961?
Give Me Your Love for Christmas, with Danny Gould and His Orchestra
Hawaii, orch. conducted and arranged by Danny Gould, 49th State Hawaii Record Co.
380-B
Houston: The Gateway to Space, arr. and cond. by Joe Leahy
Just a Whisper Away, Disneyland Records
Magic's Missing, The, Worcester Records
Milk Song, The, with The Harry Harris Singers, Ardee, 1962?
Miracle of Lourdes, with choir and Music by Camarata, Vista F-380-Z, 1961?
Nearest & Dearest, arr. & cond. by Don Ralke, Carney Records 1009
San Antonio (The City of So Many Charms), arr. & cond. by Joe Leahy, Mirador Record
& Music Publishers, 1967?
Stairway to the Stars, arr. & cond. by Don Ralke, Carney Records 1009
Way It Was, The, Worcester Records
from this period
How Do I Love Thee [ Bob Friedman ], Temponic RGF 4006 ( LP titled "Twenty-five years:
To my Genie with love, Bob [ Friedman ]" )
Little Bit o'Heaven [ Bob Friedman ], as above
Pretty Girl [ Bob Friedman ], as above
Serenade to Genie [ Bob Friedman ], as above
1971-1972
Diary of a Stewardess, Segue Records CR-D-101
Elmer's Tune, with vocal group and The Swing Era with Billy May, Time-Life
I Guess I'll Have to Dream the Rest, with vocal group and The Swing Era with Billy May,
Time-Life
It Happened in Sun Valley, with Tex Beneke and vocal group and The Swing Era with
Billy May, Time-Life
Moonlight Cocktail, with vocal group and The Swing Era with Billy May, Time-Life
Serenade in Blue, The Swing Era with Billy May, Time-Life
1981-1982
April Love
Friendly Persuasion
Invitation
Mama San
Secret Love
Somewhere, My Love
Time for Love, A
Twelfth of Never, The
You're My Life, cond. by Don Ralke, Magnum 127124
The big bands are back
in a new and exciting way!
There was even a "Bob Grabeau Big Band" for a brief time, around 1979, spurred on by radio announcer Fred Woodruf's support.
A member of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) and the American Federation of Radio & TV Artists (AFTRA), Bob served 10 years as Home Savings of America's "Singing Spokesman," appearing at concerts and dances throughout the West, rendering songs of the '30s and '40s.
There were more shows into the 1990s, including a couple of years with Columbia Artists Management's so-called "Big Band Alumni Orchestra." During their 1996 tour, titled "The Music That Won World War II," Bob did A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Tangerine, At Last, Green Eyes, Racing with the Moon, and Maria Elena. With the Big Band Alumni Orchestra's 1997 tour, "Battle of the Bands Round Two!," Bob traveled to 54 cities across the U.S.
However, after his third visit to Australia and New Zealand with a different outfit, the "Glenn MIller Reunion Band Tour," he had begun showing signs of Alzheimer's disease and was unable to continue performing.
A planned film documentary, "The Street of Dreams," focusing on Bob as "the last of the big band singers," and with comments about him by various famous songwriters, was not completed.
But even if his illness wiped away his memories of a wonderful life and career, perhaps this remembrance can play a part so that others won't forget.
I know I hope never to.
sources
Gretchen Fehrenbacher, "Swing and sway with the Big Band Alumni Orchestra," [ New
Bedford, MA ] New Standard, 1996?.
"Glenn Miller today, Sunday in Oxnard," Los Angeles Times, Jul. 21, 1984, p.N12.
"Grabeau To Cap Warbler Flock," Billboard, Nov. 20, 1948, p.41.
Steve Harvey, "Picking L.A.'s Song-Days Dwindle Down," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 13,
1974, p.B1.
Tim Hollis and Greg Ehrbar, Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records
(Jackson, MI: University Press of Mississippi, 2006).
Jo Aanne Klement, "In the mood to swing?," Bradenton [ FL ] Herald, 1996?.
Harvey Siders, "Bob Grabeau: The Unsung Singer," [ Los Angeles, CA ] Daily News,
Jan. 8, 1982, p.28+.
"Top Album Picks: Survey For Week Ending 7/24/82," Billboard, Jul. 24, 1982, p.60.
Jotel Whitburn, Joel Whitburn's Pop Hits 1940-1954 (Menomonee Falls, WI: Record
Research Inc., 1994), p.67.
"Feedback and Follow-up"
Christopher Popa follows-up on July 19, 2008:
Writing this appreciation was something that I had wanted to do for quite a while. As I wrote it, I honestly had no idea that he had died. When I finished it, I made an Internet search in case I had forgotten some of his records, and it was then that I saw he had passed away. That was a very sad day for me. (I went back and revised a few things within the piece.)
Bob was laid to rest at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills.
A celebration of his life was held today at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Calabasas, CA, where Bob had spent his final years.
Christopher Popa follows-up on August 11, 2008:
From the Social Security Death Index, I learned that Bob's father, Anthony Grabot, was born on January 22, 1894 and died in November 1977; and his mother, Jennie Grabot, was born on October 13, 1899 and died in September 1967.
And from Ancestry.com, I was reminded that Bob's middle name was Frank.
Christopher Popa follows-up on September 30, 2008:
Today I read George Arellano's warm remembrance of Bob in the September 2008 issue of Overture. Mr. Arellano's friendship came through what he wrote.
He reminded everyone of more of Bob's accomplishments, including Bob's participation on the albums "Jack and the Beanstalk" [Unique LP-111], which was made up of selections from the adaptation of the children's tale (that also was heard on TV, in an episode of the "Producers' Showcase" on December 12, 1956), and "San Francisco: My Enchanted City" [Seal Records LSS 1530], made in 1958 with David Rose conducting.
Christopher Popa follows-up on May 21, 2011:
Recently, a couple of men whom Bob was associated with have passed away. They were pianist - songwriter - conductor Danny Gould, 89 (4/28/1921-11/4/2010), who later spent 39 years at Warner Bros. Pictures and rose to the position of Vice President of Music; and Stan Ross, 82 (12/15/1928-3/11/2011), the founder - producer - engineer of Gold Star Recording Studios.
return to the Big Band Library homepage
The Beautiful Voice of
Bob Grabeau
an appreciation by
Music Librarian Christopher Popa
July 2008
He had one of the world's most beautiful singing voices, so it was no wonder that during his 50-year career a who's-who of music industry lyricists, composers, conductors, arrangers, and others used his talents, often behind-the-scenes.
For example, the demonstration records which he made, to introduce established singing stars to a songwriter's latest effort and provide a perfect example of how it should be sung, eventually numbered more than 5,000. (At one time, he did 30 demos in one day!)
Want to hear him sing? You may already have.
I can still remember my delight in finding his name listed in the Los Angeles yellow pages phone book, under, I think the heading was, "Music Instruction-Vocal." Could he be the same person whom I'd listened to over and over doing some great vocals on the Time-Life "Swing Era" series?
He was, and it made perfect sense that he'd be an ideal person to teach me about big band singing. While growing up, Bob's idols included such leading big band vocalists as Bob Eberly, Frank Sinatra, and Dick Haymes.
vital stats
given name Robert F. Grabot
birth Nov. 14, 1928,
Pittsburg, CA
death Jun. 8, 2008,
Alzheimer's disease
heritage French
parents Anthony and Jennie
Grabot
wife Marjorie ("Marge"),
m.Apr. 16, 1950
children Jennifer ("Jenny"),
Robert ("Bobby"), and
Kenneth ("Kenny")
grandchildren Anthony,
Jennifer, Matthew, Alan,
Mallory, and Daniel
Even while only in his teens, people sought out Bob's voice.
He quickly advanced from high school and local stage show performances to sponsored radio programs originating in the San Francisco Bay area on KGO-AM, which was an NBC station for many years, and KFRC-AM, a Mutual affiliate.
His guest appearances included Helen Curtis' program, "Enchantment," and Joaquin Garay's "Dinner At Dinty's. He also sang on weekly remote broadcasts from the El Patio Ballroom with the John Wollohan Orchestra.
In November 1948, Billboard reported that Bob, age 19, had been signed by Capitol Records in Hollywood.
"Grabeau is relatively unknown in these parts, coming from the San Francisco Bay area," it was stated. "Paul Weston is credited with his discovery. Lad worked the Northern California area where he appeared on local radio stations and served as vocalist with the Don Kaye band."
For Capitol, Bob began making commercial records and radio-only transcriptions.
After less than six months, he was hired as featured male vocalist with Jan Garber and His Orchestra, and stayed with the band until February 1950.
During that period, he had a couple of pop hits with Garber, namely You're Breaking My Heart and Jealous Heart. The former, based on the Italian song La Mattinata, went to #19 on the Billboard pop chart, while the latter reached #22 on the best-seller list. (I shuddered when a 1991 Reader's Digest CD set, "Big Band Memories: 1945-1969," mistakenly identified Jealous Heart as sung by "Don" Grabeau.)
The Garber band made its recordings in Hollywood, but also performed in-person across the country.
In 1950, Bob decided to settle in the San Fernando Valley, just outside Hollywood, to start a family with his lovely bride, Marge, who had been his high school sweetheart and was a former "Miss Contra Costa County."
Hollywood was a great area for him to be, thriving with music and other performing arts.
Tunesmiths quickly became aware of Bob's vocal powers to make demonstration records of their new songs.
Jan Garber holds the baton at a job in Memphis, TN during 1949. Bob is next to Jan's daughter, Janis, the band's female vocalist. Also pictured are Frank McCauley, bass, and Ernie Mathias, trumpet.
Songwriters and Film Composers
Who Sought Out Bob's Voice
( in alphabetical order )
Elmer Bernstein
Marilyn and Alan Bergman
Sammy Cahn
Hoagy Carmichael
Gene de Paul
Sammy Fain
Buddy Feyne
Hugh Friedhofer
Irving Gordon
Michael Legrand
Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
Henry Mancini
Johnny Mandel
Johnny Mercer
Alfred Newman
Lionel Newman
Alex North
Don Raye
Johnny Richards
Nelson Riddle
David Rose
Harry Ruby
Bob Russell
Bob and Dick Sherman
Jule Styne
Dmitri Tiomkin
Harry Tobias
Harry Warren
Ned Washington
Paul Francis Webster
John Williams
Victor Young
It was Bob who did the very first recordings of the all-time classics Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955), Friendly Persuasion (1956), The Twelfth of Never (1957), The Green Leaves of Summer (1960), The Shadow of Your Smile (1965), and Somewhere, My Love (1966).
I remember that once, while I was at his house, Bob played me the original demo of Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, written by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster. I think that Bob said it had been done with a 30-piece orchestra.
A huge compliment was paid to Bob by Tony Bennett, after Bennett included The Shadow of Your Smile on one of his Columbia sessions and it became a minor hit.
"I recorded it after listening to your demo every day for eight to 10 weeks," he said. "I hope I did it as well as you did it."
When Bob finally got a chance to record those songs for commercial release, on a 1982 LP titled "Bob Grabeau Sings Webster's Dictionary ... Paul Francis Webster, That Is," Billboard chose it as one of their "Top Album Picks."
"Grabeau has a warm, easygoing way with a lyric that suits these evergreens perfectly," they commented.
I always thought Bob should have sung the 1975 Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To), that his voice would have been an ideal match there, too.
That didn't happen, but he did record commercially for Capitol, Coral, Decca, RCA "X", and Tops, as well on many songwriters' "vanity" labels.
Other than the two Jan Garber hits, perhaps his best-known recordings were made under the auspices of Disneyland Records and Time-Life Music.
He worked for Disneyland Records on two projects, a "Babes in Toyland" album and a new version of "The Lady and the Tramp." Thanks to Disney's massive and non-stop marketing, it's entirely possible that you've heard Bob's voice on them without realizing it.
The "Babes in Toyland" disc, made at Sunset Sound in Hollywood with members of the original cast re-creating their songs (plus Bob subbing for Tommy Sands), received a Grammy nomination in 1961 as "Best Sound Track Album or Recording of Original Cast from a Motion Picture or Television."
And "The Lady and the Tramp" record, made in 1962, surely was a children's favorite for many years, including Bob's gorgeous vocal, Bella Notte, sung as the two dogs are having a spaghetti dinner.
In 1971, Bob was asked to do the Ray Eberle vocal parts (chosen even over Eberle himself!) for Time-Life's "Swing Era" re-creation series, with music transcribed from original big band recordings and conducted by Billy May.
"In the small California town of Pittsburg where I grew up," Bob said, "there were fan clubs for Glenn Miller and Ray Eberle. We used to get together and listen to everything they did. When I was first leaning how to sing, I'd rehearse to Ray's records and try to emulate him. To do [ this project ] was like the thrill of all time."
Those "Swing Era" recordings, including Bob's eight vocals, have sold over a million copies worldwide.
Recommended Listening
Bella Notte, Disneyland Records, 1962
Indian Summer, Time-Life, 1971 John Best, trumpet /
Rollie Bundock, bass / Billy May, cond.
Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, Rayvel, 1982
At Last, Time-Life, 1971 Willie Schwartz, clarinet
This Earth Is Mine, Decca, 1959 main title
Today, Magnum, 1982 Don Ralke, cond.
My Own, "X," 1955 with Gordon Jenkins
Exactly Like You, 1957 with Johnny T. ("John") Williams
All I Need, Magnum, 1982 with the Bill Tole Orchestra
Stairway to the Stars, Time-Life, 1972 Billy May, cond.
Invitation, Rayvel, 1982
one of Bob's 16" radio-only discs
Bob appeared on "American Bandstand" on October 31, 1957. I'm not sure, but I bet it was to sing a 45 that was released as "Bobby Grabot."
He was the featured male singer on ABC-TV's weekly "Music Is My Beat" and "Strictly Informal" programs.
In the 1980s, I remember him getting ready to do the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium, televised live on Dodger Cablevision - actually, I'm pretty sure that he did that more than once.
His vocal gifts were also utilized -- in an anonymous fashion -- in a number of movie and TV productions.
For example, he sang Just a Gigolo for the soundtrack of a 1977 TV mini-series, "Beggarman, Thief."
That same year, with the made-for-TV-movie "Kill Me If You Can," he captured Nat "King" Cole's style so well on Nature Boy that the Cole Estate threatened a suit against Columbia Pictures, until they were convinced it was actually Bob doing a sound-alike vocal.
"The King of Sing," ca.1970s
In 1979, Universal Pictures made their "The Last Convertible" mini-series, set in World War II, and wisely hired Bob to do no fewer than 5 songs (At Last, I Can't Get Started, Indian Summer, This Love of Mine, and Violets for Your Furs) for the underscore.
Bob sang Man with the Gallant Gun on the soundtrack of a 1957 western, "Badlands of Montana," and Lorna for a 1965 Russ Meyer thriller, "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!."
He was also heard (but not seen) in commercials for Dial Soap, Kleenex Casual Napkins, and the Crocker-Anglo Bank.
And in 1974 when Los Angeles was trying to pick an official city song, Bob appeared with pianist Joe Marino to perform each of the ten possibilities, which included Angeltown (by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans), City of Angels (Don Beckman), Los Angeles (Duane Valentry), and Los Angeles, the City I Love (Walter Jurman).
Meanwhile, based in an office at the Gold Star Recording Studios in Hollywood, Bob had started teaching singing fundamentals to others, with his Vocal Workshop (which he later continued at his home in Van Nuys).
He attributed much of his success to his own studies as a youngster with Bill Stoker of San Francisco. At the time, Stoker was also instructing Johnny Mathis, Merv Griffin, and Guy Mitchell.
I remember one day Bob and I played catch outside his office. He must have thought I need some sun and some food, because he treated me to a Bob's Big Boy hamburger afterwards.
Not surprisingly, the nearby TV studios turned to Bob to coach their young stars.
His students included Scott Baio ("Happy Days" / "Charles-in-Charge"), Rick Scott ("The Waltons"), Philip McKeon ("Alice"), and Kristy McNichol ("Family").
Bob and a woman named Joyce Goodwin even coached The Children of Saint Michaels Day School Choir, from Studio City, California, in order to perform Yule Tide Spirit, Jolly Holiday, and Wonderful Wintertime, on an ABC teleplay, "A Pink Christmas," which aired December 7, 1978.
Bob also continued a schedule of public and private singing engagements, including half-a-dozen years during the 1960s at the Beverly Hills Hotel with pianist - bandleader Jack Fina.
Following the tremendous success of the Time-Life "Swing Era" series, Bob was featured at quite a number of Glenn Miller tribute concerts and other events in the Los Angeles area during the 1970s and '80s, backed by bandleaders including Rob Morris, Tommy King, Bill Davies, and Bob ("Bobby") Noval.
The advertisement to the right shows a job with former Les Brown vocalist Lucy Ann Polk.
a week-long appearance in 1975
Bob Grabeau, ca.1950s
photo courtesy of Marge Grabot
