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Biography
Known as "Mr.
Bass Trombone" the world over,
George started with the Ray Robbins Band after
service in the US Navy, and then went with Gene
Krupa, where he was in the same section with Urbie
Green. It was Urbies' lyric tenor trombone that
inspired George to be an "Urbie" one
octave lower.
In 1950 George went with
Stan Kenton Band until 1953, when he stayed in LA
rather than go with Stan on a European tour.
He soon met Nelson Riddle to began his recording
career with Riddle, Don Costa, Billy May, Axel
Stordahl, Gordon Jenkins, among others, in
sessions with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Judy
Garland, Sarah Vaughn, Nat Cole. It was this
experience with vocalists that Roberts further
developed his singing style.
[In
the book by Will Friedwald Sinatra! The Song
is You, Friedwald discusses George Robert's
role in Nelson Riddle's arranging style and
Robert's role in his arrangements for Sinatra.
He also lists other trombonists that worked with
Sinatra and what solos they played. (Thanks to
David Bratcher for this reference). Read more
about George in the ITA Journal, Winter
1988, in an article by Elecia Hill, "George
Roberts: Tribute to a Legend."
As a Hollywood studio
musician, Roberts recorded thousands of film
scores with all the major studios (Jaws, King
Kong, Closer Encounters of the Third Kind,
etc.) and served on the staff orchestras of the
major radio and television networks (Carol
Burnett Show, Dinah Shore Show, Academy Awards,
etc.).
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