Bobby Cottonwood

Originally from Philadelphia, Bobby Cottonwood started singing at the age of 2. Moving to Los Angeles at age 12, Bobby not only took with him the early Philadelphia vocal influences but at age 16 turned pro as a drummer, singer and bandleader appearing on stage with the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, Kinks, Animals, Sonny and Cher and many others. At 20 Bobby hit the road performing with his popular show and dance group, "Sounds West" for 7 years traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada, and during this time appeared with Dean Martin, Helen Reddy,PaulWilliams, Jack Jones, Tom Jones, Billy Eckstine, Nelson Riddle and a score of others in Las Vegas, Reno & Lake Tahoe through the '70s & '80s.

Then, in 1986, as envisioned by the Hollywood Economic Revitalization Effort, and for almost 10 years, Bobby opened a jazz club, Legends of Hollywood, on Hollywood Blvd., and later in Studio City. The seed was planted and his roots in Jazz started to grow and develop. They were nourished by all the legendary jazz greats who performed there along with him: greats like Freddy Hubbard, James Moody, Frankie Capp, Pete Christlieb, Supersax great Jay Migliori, Ray Pizzi, Tonight Show staples Ross Tompkins, Sal Marquez, Pete and Conti Condoli, Don Menza, Jack Sheldon, Herb Jeffries, Ernie Andrews, Jake Hanna, Sarah Vaughn’s pianist George Gaffney, Les Brown’s bassist Ernie McDaniel, Charlie Parker’s drummer Larance Marable and countless others.

After producing Hollywood's 1st official Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Palladium in May of 1995 through a grant from the City of Los Angeles, he sold his famous Jazz Club to a blues club entrepreneur. Cottonwood moved to Sedona, AZ. later that year and began a love affair with Sedona lasting 11 years, performing Jazz, Country, Rock, Blues and Dixieland to rave audiences and reviews in the No. Ariz. music scene. His love and loyalty to jazz, however, allowed him to expand his musical abilities and opportunities. One such opportunity was his collaboration with legendary jazz pianist Joe Bonner, from Harlem, arranged through Milt Cannon, Pres. of the Prescott Jazz Society who brought Bonner to Prescott from Copenhagen for a 6 month residency. For the following 6 months Joe stayed in Prescott and along with Cottonwood performed regularly at Fairs, Festivals and in night clubs, hotels and casino showrooms throughout N. AZ. and recorded a CD together called, "Smile," a Tribute album to Tony Bennett and Bill Evans which is available at his website: www,bobbycottonwood.com; on amazon.com; at www.cdbaby.com/cottonwood and at all live performances.

Bobby returned to Las Vegas in 2006 where he is actively performing and teaching. He has performed at Red Rock Casino, J.W. Marriott, an extended engagement for 5 months at Lake Las Vegas. He can be seen frequently around town in a variety of musical ensembles performing Rock, R & B & Blues with The Incredible Blues Band. June 2008 saw his Jazz Quintet performing his show “Romance Needs A Jolt” for a crowd of 1100 people at Lake Las Vegas’ Jazz On The Lake Series. From August and throughout the remainder of 2008 Bobby’s Jazz Trio will be a frequent feature at Las Vegas’ Springs Preserve at Wolfgang Puck’s Café. He also continues to teach and perform in Prescott, Sedona and Flagstaff for engagements private and public and his Jazz Duo appears regularly at the Prescott Resort where he will be performing throughout 2009.
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