Bob Neloms

[AllenLowe]

Bob is one of my oldest friends, but slipped under the radar when he moved back to Detroit. Also, a genius pianist, one of my favorites, and a genuinely funny guy,

I had not heard from him in about 10-12 years until last night when he called and we had a nice, long conversation. I had been worried because he's had serious health problem, but Bob (who is about to turn 70) sounded great; he's had some hearing loss, unfortunately, but he's feeling good and living with his wife in a condo in Birmingham, Michigan.

best of all, he's still playing. He's got the Baldwin baby grand he grew up with, he told me. It's got me itching to get on a plane, go out and record with him; he's one of those incredibly creative musicians you can put into any situation and he'll come up with something just perfect, clever, and inventive. I never had as much fun as when I played with Bob.

I miss him a lot, so I gotta figure a way out there.

and I'm glad he's alive and well. A truly wonderful human being. (Also, less known is that he was the house pianist at Motown from 1962-64. Funny stories about Stevie Wonder, the 4 Tops, and the interesting, shall we say, financial backing that made that company grow).

[marcello]

Thanks for the report, Allen.

[Pete C]

So, did Mingus find him through one of his other Detroit connections?

[flat5]

I met him and his father in Eureka, Ca. ~1975. Got to play a few tunes with him.

[AllenLowe]

1) from what I remember, Mingus got him through another member of the band who recommended him - though Bob had sat in with him at some point -

2) You played with him in '75? Eureka was where he was raised (also the Bridges family, IIRC - Beau and Jeff and Lloyd) -