Bob Birch
| Bob Birch | |
|---|---|
Birch performing in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Wayne Birch |
| Born |
July 14, 1956 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | August 15, 2012 (aged 56) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Bass, bassoon, saxophone, backing vocals |
| Associated acts | Elton John, Warpipes |
Robert Wayne "Bob" Birch (July 14, 1956 – August 15, 2012) was an American musician. He was primarily a session musician and sideman to a variety of notable artists.
At an early age, Birch was inspired to pursue music by his father Chet, an upright bassist. Birch began playing the alto saxophone, mirroring the styles of Paul Desmond and Cannonball Adderley. He learned quickly and was soon recognized by the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association through his 1st-place finishes at music festival competitions. Around 7th grade, Birch tried out the electric bass, from his fascination for the Motown sound, as well as groups like Chicago, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, and the overall mesmerizing sound of the Fender bass coming across the radio waves. One day he picked up his junior high band director Art Dries's Mosrite bass during school lunch and something about it felt totally right. Because he also had a strong passion for the classical side of music, Birch focused his school studies on the bassoon. In high school, Birch played with many bands playing sax, bass, as well as bassoon. As a senior in high school, he won the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. He received a competitive scholarship from the state of Michigan to enroll in Wayne State University in Detroit and study Pre-Medicine. After he began college Birch played six nights a week amidst the Detroit club scene while attending classes during the day. His love for music swayed him quickly from the Pre-Medicine major. Birch went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Music Education and Performance from Wayne State.
Soon after graduating college, Birch joined a band with his brother Dan and sister-in-law Martha, becoming one of the top bands on the Detroit circuit. While performing at lounges in local hotels, Birch met many musicians from some of the top touring bands of the time including the Doobie Brothers, George Benson, Chicago and Barry Manilow. The conversations he had with these artists influenced him to decide to move to Los Angeles and take a stab at the big time music scene.
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