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Bohanon, George (7th August 1937-Present)

He is a trombonist, publisher, music contractor, music publisher and professor born George Roland Bohanon Jr. in Detroit, Michigan, who started playing when he was just eight years old. He studied at Wayne State University and Detroit Institute of Musical Arts and stepped out into an extremely busy and successful career.

During the first half of the 1960s he was part of the Chico Hamilton Quintet and he was also First Trombonist for Motown Records. Staying with Motown for a period of seven years he decided in 1968 to relocate to Los Angeles and there he became extremely sought after as a studio and jazz musician.

Throughout the course of his career he has performed with literally hundreds of artists which include Herb Alpert, The Blackbyrds, Glen Campbell, Harry Chapin, Stanley Clarke, Natalie Cole, Norman Connors, Rita Coolidge , Ry Cooder, Miles Davis, The Doors, George Duke, Earth Wind & Fire, The Everly Brothers, The Gap Band, Marvin Gaye, Stan Getz, Arlo Guthrie, John Lee Hooker, The Isley Brothers, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Patti LaBelle, Melissa Manchester, Herbie Mann, Johnny Mathis, Melba Moore, Dolly Parton, Billy Preston, Smokey Robinson , Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, The Temptations, Stanley Turrentine, Barry White and Stevie Wonder and too many more to mention.

Featuring on countless recordings some of the albums he can be heard on include his own Bold Bohannon, Boss: Bossa Nova and Blue Phase and also Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell , Big Man by Cannonball Adderley, Call Me Irresponsible by Michael Buble, Closer to You by J.J. Cale, Portrait Gallery by Harry Chapin, Unforgettable by Natalie Cole, Spirit of Love by Con Funk Shun, Boomer’s Story by Ry Cooder, Dingo by Miles Davis, All This Love by DeBarge, Afterglow by Dr. John , Soft Parade by The Doors, Bittersweet by Lamont Dozier, I Am, Faces, Raise and Powerlight by Earth Wind & Fire, Live and In Concert by The Four Tops, Live (Motown) and Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye, Apasionado by Stan Getz, Always You by James Ingram , Blue Gardenia by Etta James, Midnight Believer by B.B. King, Simple Things by Carole King, Touch by Gladys Knight & The Pips, Well Kept Secret by James Last, Ultimate Collection by Martha & The Vandellas, Dancer With Bruised Knees by Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Waitress in a Donut Shop by Maria Muldaur, Guilty: 30 Years Of by Randy Newman, Takin’ My Time by Bonnie Raitt, Louder Than Words by Lionel Richie, 35th Anniversary Box by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Lady Sings the Blues by Diana Ross , Patrice by Patrice Rushen, My Time by Boz Scaggs , It’s a Mystery by Bob Seger , L.A. is My Lady by Frank Sinatra , Sit On It by Jimmy Smith, Straight to the Bank by Bill Summers, Gorilla by James Taylor , Emperors of Soul by The Temptations, Ultimate Collection by Junior Walker & The All Stars, This Kind of Lovin’ by The Whispers, Just for You by Barry White, Song Bird by Deniece Williams and Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder and these literally just scratch the surface.

In movie music he has featured as a musician on the soundtrack for The Long Riders, Hoodlum, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and The Color Purple.

He is currently is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor in jazz performance and trombone in the Department of Ethnomusicology at UCLA.

Recognised for his contribution to music he was awarded the “Most Valuable Player” by the National Association of Recording Arts in 1980.

The Gap Band recordings
Baby Baba Boogie (Lonnie Simmons/Charlie Wilson )
Mercury MER 37(UK 45)

He plays a solo about halfway through Ry Cooder’s “Down in Hollywood”…

Sources:

  1. http://www.georgebohanon.com/bio.htm
  2. http://www.answers.com/topic/george-bohannon?cat=entertainment
  3. http://www.georgebohanon.com/discography.htm
  4. http://home.cogeco.ca/~mansion1/georgebohannon.html
  5. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0091989/
  6. http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/people/bohanon.htm
  7. http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:George%20Bohannon:1927043318