1949-55: Lounged around for six years, leeching off of my parents, Roy & Dottie.
1955: Generally regarded as first onstage appearance, at
Cavacinni's in Fishkill, New York; sang Tennessee Ernie
Ford's hit of the day, "16 Tons". Recently an earlier
appearance at a club in Long Island has come to light,
but details are too sketchy to officially count it as #1.
1960: Played drums with my first garden variety, no name pick-up band in
the Dutchess Room at the long ago torn down Poughkeepsie Inn. My records
are long gone but I believe it was for someone's anniversary (silver or
golden, who remembers? Gimme a break, I was only 11)
1962-67: Mostly spent learning the trade with numerous bands
in Dutchess County, New York. Some of those included
The Torquéys, The George Whitesell Combo, The Techniques,
The Travelers, The Regattas, Peter & the Rabbits, The
Bell Notes and Paisley Ice Cream Cone.
1963: Began playing professionally (i.e. Joined the Union)
with The Torquéys (Drums & Guitar)
Some Torquéy Highlights all from 1964
- The New York World's Fair
- First radio work, WEOK & WHVW (Poughkeepsie, NY)
- First recording ("Spinner" - a regional hit)
- First TV appearances - "The Barn" WRGB-TV Ch6 Schenectady, NY
1964: My first "Celebrity" gig - Backing The Regents on guitar
(The Regents had the original hit recording of "Barbara Ann"
five years prior to the Beach Boys version)
1965: First solo act at the Caribbean in Miami Beach.
(I was afraid of falling on my tush in front of a hometown crowd!)
1965: Beginning of an 8 year association with the Cecilwood Theatre
in Fishkill, NY. The Cecilwood was a legitimate Summer Stock
Theatre, 60 or so miles north of NYC. 99.9% of my work
was in the pit orchestra; but that other .1% ....... (sigh)
1965-67: More "Celebrity" gigs, both backing and opening shows.
I've always been uncomfortable name dropping; still am.
If you're really that interested, e-mail me.
Late '67: Unplanned Career Change - U.S. Army (remember a thing called the draft?)
1968-69: Overseas gigs with mostly two outfits
- The Western Wranglers in Germany
- Bob & Denis in Korea
1970: Back to the "real world" playing bass with Aardvark Jam,
a very hard rock group (would call it metal today). Some
acoustic solo work. Also freelanced wherever possible.
1971-72: One of the best units I've had the pleasure to work
with, Four Years Later; so called because we tried
to put this band together in 1967, but couldn't. Later
at our first 1971 rehearsal, one of the band members said,
"Well, here we are, four years later" and the name stuck.
1972-73: Drummer with a musical revue, "Let Yourself Go" in NYC.
6 nights a week at the legendary Upstairs at the Downstairs.
1973: The Meyer Davis Orchestra. To those of you knowing
NYC society, I need say no more. To those unknowing,
the top society orchestra of it's day in the city.
1973-76: U.S. Navy Show Band West - Fronted a top notch jazz-rock
organization, varying in size from 10-22 pieces, touring
50,000 plus miles annually.
1974-76: Off duty Navy Show Band members formed Manhattan Design
a variety band much in the Bob Nolan solo tradition.
1976-78: Resumed solo career, up and down the East Coast from
Florida to Rhode Island. Also freelanced, with casual
dates and studio work.
1977: Released an independent solo album "Just Another Album"(Click for info)
One track, "Nobody Knows I'm Here" is a quarter-finalist in
the American Songwriter Festival. Means out of over 350,000
entries it placed somewhere between 9th and 16th. Not bad
considering Bobby Goldsboro entered under a pseudonym and
finished no higher than me!!
1978-85: The Expressions (variety band) out of Alameda County, CA.
An amiable on again, off again working relationship. I'd
occasionally take a road job for a year or so at a time.
1980: One Way, later called The Bay Brothers. 5-piece Variety/Top 40 road band.
The 80's: In general can be divided into four different parts;
The Expressions, solo work, freelancing all in the SF
Bay Area and as musical director for the George Pickard
Show, a Nevada-based lounge act.
1986-87: The Bay Brothers (reborn as a duo) six nights a week at Jack Hamilton's
Clubhouse in Morning Sun, Iowa.
1987-89: Mostly solo work, but freelanced casual dates in and
out of California along with some studio work.
1990: Solo act in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1991-95: Drummer/Guitarist with a very fine variety trio, Full Coverage.
1995-2003: Keyboards/Vocals occasional Guitar with Nolan & Tuttle ® Variety Duo.
Oct 2003: Unexpectedly resumed solo career; plan on finishing that way.
May 2008: Started doing some duo jobs with Marvin Hardy, as Mad Marv and Boomer
Bob giving a little break to the public from hearing me doing it all!!
Disclaimer: To any former members of numerous bands, from
Jimmy & the Cyclones thru The Dentones, Group Therapy,
Shades of Sesame, The Cascades, Instant Paralysis,
The Six Million Dollar Band, The Continentals, Crystal,
Starmist, Cheryl Unger, Brandy Rain, Rich Horner,
Donna Goodell and any of the dozen or so I've forgotten
or failed to mention....
NO SLIGHT INTENDED!!! I'm just an old guy with a web
page and a terminal case of CRS!
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And remember:
Last Updated 8/7/08
© 2008 Bob Nolan