MUSIC

Bob Ellenson Music

From the Album Now & Then

Affectionately known as "Guitar Bob" by Riverside and Berdoo locals, Bob's musical career spans nearly 45 years beginning with his first stage performance (at the age of 4 years old) with the Monterey Park Light Opera production of “The Music Man” during a scene his mother had a role in. Later he would perform with his first band (Sleazy Weasel) at Letha Raney Jr. High School in Corona California in 1969. He went on to join the band Geneva (performing originals on the L.A. music scene) fronted by the world rewnowned blues guitarist Daniel Castro in the late 70’s (that's Bob in the photo above with the beret on and Daniel on the right). His most recent musical accomplishment is the completion of a new album (due out before year end). The album entitled "Old School" is a tribute to some of Bobs most influential inspirations over the years including BB King, John Brim, and Jimi Hendrix, to name a few. An earlier album entitled “Now and Then” completed in 2002 features 10 of Bob’s original compositions. Another album is in the works entitled “More is Better” and will be completed in late 2007. This will be another collection of Bob’s original music, composed, performed and produced at his home studio.

You can hear a .wav clip from one of the songs on “Now & Then” by clicking the link near the top of the page. Bob’s childhood musical memories are of his mother singing in off Broadway musical productions like South Pacific, Bye Bye Birdie, Oklahoma, Hello Dolly and Flower Drum Song, and his father playing Benny Goodman songs on the clarinet and the piano. “My earliest recollection of the music I would grow to embrace is of sitting in Gordon Sandoz garage while his father and my mother transcribed German operettas into English, listening to his father’s 78’s on a hand crank Victorola. I remember hearing Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, Ledbelly, Jimmy Reed, and knowing that had found a sound I would never forget and would carry in my heart forever.”