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{{Short description|American a cappella group}}
:''This article refers to an a capella group. For the ride, see ].''
{{Fanpov|date=November 2012}}
----
{{about|the a cappella singing group}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name = The Bobs
| image =
| caption =
| background = group_or_band
| origin = ], United States
| genre = ], ]
| years_active = 1980–2017
| label =
| associated_acts =
| current_members = Richard Greene<br>Matthew Stull<br>Dan Schumacher<br>Angie Doctor
| past_members = ]<br>Janie Scott<br>Joe Finetti<br>Lori Rivera<br>Maureen Smith<br>Amy Engelhardt
}}


'''The Bobs''' were an ] vocal group founded in ], in the early 1980s. They moved to ], and were active recording and touring throughout the United States, Canada and Europe until their farewell show at the Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA, on October 21, 2017.<ref>Announcement on https://web.archive.org/web/20180324004919/http://bobs.com/, accessed 2018 Mar 24.</ref>
'''The Bobs''' are a "]" ] group founded in ]. The group is known for humorous original songs and '']'' arrangement techniques. Instead of ] more traditional ] songs, The Bobs started out with songs like "]" (]) and "Psycho Killer" (]). Although two of their albums are dominated by covers, the overwhelming majority of their repertoire is original, with songs discussing diverse subjects like lunar cattle farming, sleepy bus drivers, ]s, laundry, ]-related flooding, ], ], shopping-mall security guards, celebrity ]s, ], post office violence, heart transplants, ], ], ]s, rebellious footwear, ], nicknames for genitalia, and felines intent on ruling the world.


==History==
The Bobs have broken with a cappella tradition several times by including instruments. The majority of the ] album ''Plugged'' is backed by toy drums. ''Plugged'' also made heavy use of studio equipment to make the voices sound more like ]s and ]s. ''Coaster'' includes a rock rhythm section on one song. But this original "band without instruments" usually uses just their mouths, hands, feet and "other body parts" to fill a room with a sound as big as an orchestra.
===Formation===
Founding members ] and Matthew Stull decided to form an a cappella group when they left their jobs as deliverers of ]s in San Francisco.<ref>The Bobs at "Primarily A Cappella" . Accessed 2010 January 14.</ref>


Members of the group are always credited with "Bob" as their middle name. The name is often described as an acronym for "best of breed," an award given out at ]s. Members of the group are always credited with "Bob" as their middle name. The name is often described as an acronym for "]", an award given out at ]s.<ref>Mentioned in the Review of "My I'm Large" at Signers.com , accessed 2018 June 14.</ref> Another story that the Bobs give is the name was shortened from "The Oral Roberts" in the first months the group performed together.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}


===Approach and notable performances===
The group has garnered a healthy cult following in the U.S. and Europe in the 24 years they've been touring and recording, and has won numerous songwriting and vocal performance honors.
Instead of singing more traditional ] songs, The Bobs started out with original arrangements of their own songs and songs like "]" and "]". Although two of their albums are dominated by songs written by others, the overwhelming majority of their repertoire is original, with songs discussing a diverse array of humorous subjects.


The Bobs have broken with a cappella tradition several times by including instruments. The majority of the 1995 album ''Plugged'' is backed by toy drums. ''Plugged'' also made heavy use of studio equipment to make the voices sound more like ]s and ]s. ''Coaster'' includes a rock rhythm section on one song. ''Rhapsody in Bob'' features their arrangement of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with pianist ] playing most of the original piano concerto as The Bobs become a vocal orchestra. But this original "band without instruments" usually uses just their mouths, hands, feet and "other body parts".
== Discography ==
* ''The Bobs''
* ''My, I'm Large''
* ''Songs for Tomorrow Morning''
* ''Sing the Songs of . . .''
* ''Shut Up and Sing!''
* ''Cover the Songs of . . . ''
* ''Plugged''
* ''Too Many Santas''
* ''i brow club''
* ''Coaster''
* ''20 Songs From 20 Years: The Best of The Bobs''
* ''Rhapsody in Bob''


Several anniversary concerts were held in Berkeley, California in January 2006 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Bobs.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} These concerts featured seven of the eight singers who have ever been in the band.
== Current members ==
* Richard "Bob" Greene
* Matthew "Bob" Stull
* Amy "Bob" Engelhardt
* Dan "Bob" Schumacher


The Bobs gave their final performance on October 21, 2017, at ] at ]. It was broadcast live at .
== Past members ==
* Gunnar "Bob" Madsen
* Janie "Bob" Scott
* Lori "Bob" Rivera
* Joe "Bob" Finetti


===Soundtrack contributions===
Other singers have toured with the group, but were not incorporated as permanent additions. Maureen "Bob" Smith performs on two songs on the recording ''Sing the Songs of . . .''
The Bobs performed "Psycho Killer" on the revival of '']'' in 1988.
The Bobs supplied the opening music for the documentary "I'm from Hollywood" starring inter-gender wrestling champion ], directed by Lynne Margulies and Joe Orr. The song was played at the beginning of the Kaufman ], '']''


The Bobs' recording of the Jimmy Cliff/Guilly Bright song "Sittin' In Limbo" was featured in the 1991 movie '']''.
== Original members ==
* Matthew "Bob" Stull
* Gunnar "Bob" Madsen
* Richard "Bob" Greene
* Janie "Bob" Scott


The Bobs' recording of the song "]" was used in the 1993 movie '']''.
==External link==
*


In the 1995 ] movie '']'', the Bobs performed most of the soundtrack, including the background music that occasionally interacted with the story. During the 1995 ] they performed a medley of television themes with Alexander.
]

In 1996, the Bobs performed several original songs and provided the character voices for the online video game '']''.

===Recognition===
Their arrangement of "Helter Skelter" was nominated for a ] in 1984.<ref>1984 Grammy award nomination, Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices, Richard Greene, Gunnar Madsen - Helter Skelter (The Bobs) ], , accessed 2010 Jan 13.</ref>

A documentary about the group, called ''Sign My Snarling Movie: 25 Years of The Bobs'' was released in summer 2007.

==Discography==
* '']'' (1983)
* '']'' (1987)
* '']'' (1988)
* '']'' (1991)
* '']'' (1993)
* ''] '' (1994)
* '']'' (1995)
* '']'' (1996)
* '']'' (1997)
* '']'' (2000)
* '']'' (2003) – includes 12 previously unreleased tracks
* '']'' (2005)
* '']'' (2007)
* '']'' (2013)

===Compilations===
* '']'' (1990)
* '']'' (2008)

===Videography===
* ''The Bobs on PBS's Lonesome Pine Special'' (1989)
* ''The Bobs on PBS's Lonesome Pine Special'' - ISOBOBS (with the dance group ]) (1990)
* ''Live at the 20th Century'' (1998)
* ''The Bobs Sing! (And other Love Songs)'' (2000)
* ''Sign My Snarling Movie: 25 Years of the Bobs'' (2007)

==External links==
*
*
*
* radio interview at , "The World Cafe"
*
*
*

==References==
{{reflist}}
*The Bobs at

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bobs, The}}
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 07:01, 11 December 2024

American a cappella group
This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. Please clean it up to conform to a higher standard of quality, and to make it neutral in tone. (November 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
This article is about the a cappella singing group. For other uses, see The Bobs (disambiguation).
The Bobs
OriginSan Francisco, California, United States
GenresNew wave, a cappella
Years active1980–2017
MembersRichard Greene
Matthew Stull
Dan Schumacher
Angie Doctor
Past membersGunnar Madsen
Janie Scott
Joe Finetti
Lori Rivera
Maureen Smith
Amy Engelhardt

The Bobs were an a cappella vocal group founded in San Francisco, California, in the early 1980s. They moved to Seattle, Washington, and were active recording and touring throughout the United States, Canada and Europe until their farewell show at the Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA, on October 21, 2017.

History

Formation

Founding members Gunnar Madsen and Matthew Stull decided to form an a cappella group when they left their jobs as deliverers of singing telegrams in San Francisco.

Members of the group are always credited with "Bob" as their middle name. The name is often described as an acronym for "Best of Breed", an award given out at dog shows. Another story that the Bobs give is the name was shortened from "The Oral Roberts" in the first months the group performed together.

Approach and notable performances

Instead of singing more traditional doo-wop songs, The Bobs started out with original arrangements of their own songs and songs like "Helter Skelter" and "Psycho Killer". Although two of their albums are dominated by songs written by others, the overwhelming majority of their repertoire is original, with songs discussing a diverse array of humorous subjects.

The Bobs have broken with a cappella tradition several times by including instruments. The majority of the 1995 album Plugged is backed by toy drums. Plugged also made heavy use of studio equipment to make the voices sound more like guitars and bass guitars. Coaster includes a rock rhythm section on one song. Rhapsody in Bob features their arrangement of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with pianist Bob Malone playing most of the original piano concerto as The Bobs become a vocal orchestra. But this original "band without instruments" usually uses just their mouths, hands, feet and "other body parts".

Several anniversary concerts were held in Berkeley, California in January 2006 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Bobs. These concerts featured seven of the eight singers who have ever been in the band.

The Bobs gave their final performance on October 21, 2017, at The Barns at Wolf Trap, Virginia. It was broadcast live at Acaville.org.

Soundtrack contributions

The Bobs performed "Psycho Killer" on the revival of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1988. The Bobs supplied the opening music for the documentary "I'm from Hollywood" starring inter-gender wrestling champion Andy Kaufman, directed by Lynne Margulies and Joe Orr. The song was played at the beginning of the Kaufman biopic, Man on the Moon

The Bobs' recording of the Jimmy Cliff/Guilly Bright song "Sittin' In Limbo" was featured in the 1991 movie Cool As Ice.

The Bobs' recording of the song "Barbara Ann" was used in the 1993 movie Surf Ninjas.

In the 1995 Jason Alexander movie For Better or Worse, the Bobs performed most of the soundtrack, including the background music that occasionally interacted with the story. During the 1995 Emmys they performed a medley of television themes with Alexander.

In 1996, the Bobs performed several original songs and provided the character voices for the online video game Castle Infinity.

Recognition

Their arrangement of "Helter Skelter" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1984.

A documentary about the group, called Sign My Snarling Movie: 25 Years of The Bobs was released in summer 2007.

Discography

Compilations

Videography

  • The Bobs on PBS's Lonesome Pine Special (1989)
  • The Bobs on PBS's Lonesome Pine Special - ISOBOBS (with the dance group ISO) (1990)
  • Live at the 20th Century (1998)
  • The Bobs Sing! (And other Love Songs) (2000)
  • Sign My Snarling Movie: 25 Years of the Bobs (2007)

External links

References

  1. Announcement on https://web.archive.org/web/20180324004919/http://bobs.com/, accessed 2018 Mar 24.
  2. The Bobs at "Primarily A Cappella" singers.com. Accessed 2010 January 14.
  3. Mentioned in the Review of "My I'm Large" at Signers.com , accessed 2018 June 14.
  4. 1984 Grammy award nomination, Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices, Richard Greene, Gunnar Madsen - Helter Skelter (The Bobs) LA Times, "The Envelope" awards database, accessed 2010 Jan 13.
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