He is a trumpeter whose father also played and he began to perform the instrument when he was just 5 years old. He performed in his school band and then after dropping out of college he went to play with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
He went on to perform with the O’Jays for a time before relocating to Miami to attend the University of Miami School of Music and perform in its concert jazz band. While there he played in the Bananas club and would get the chance to perform with stars such as Tony Bennett, Bob Hope and Ben E. King.
Although he was awarded the “Outstanding Performance for Jazz Instrumentalist” in 1982 by the Downbeat Magazine, the work dried up and he took jobs as a substitute teacher and store salesman.
In 1992 a friend told him that Jimmy Buffett was looking for a trumpeter, and 2 weeks later he was working with him as a member of the Coral Reefer Band. The rest is pretty much history as he has been with him as a touring and recording musician ever since appearing on albums that include Fruitcakes, Barometer Soup, Banana Wind, Christmas Island, Don’t Stop the Carnivaland Take the Weather With You.
Some other albums he features on are Forever Tams by The Tams, Word of Mouth by Mac McAnally, More Songs About Cars and Girls by Marty Rudnick and Jazz Miami by the University of Miami Jazz Concert Band.
He has also been a member of Oop Bob Sh’bam, which is a swing group that plays in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
He performs here on “The Three Marias” by Sammy Figueroa…
Sources:
- http://www.buffettnews.com/bandmember182.html
- http://www.mangosonlasolas.com/oopbopshbam.htm
- http://www.buffettworld.com/band.html
- http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:John%20Lovell:1927151280