Bob Florence bandleader 1932 Los Angeles CA
Bob Florence began his career as pianist and arranger for Sy Zentner's orchestra from 1959 to 1964. Bob's arrangement of "Up A Lazy River" became a big seller for Zentner in the early '60s. Around this time Bob was also arranging and composing for Jimmy Witherspoon, the popular Brazilian bandleader Sergio Mendes, Joe Pass, Frank Capp, and Bud Shank. From 1958 to 1983 Bob led his own big band, performing and recording in the Los Angeles area. Among his sidemen he has always had prominent jazz players such as Herb Geller, Bud Shank, Bill Perkins, and Bob Cooper. Bob Florence remains very active today, doing more arranging than performing. His work is in demand by many prominent jazz groups as a performer and writer/arranger.
Rod Cless, 1907, Clarinet, Lennox, Ia.
Rod, like many musicians who grew up in a musical family, began to study music at an early age. Rod's instrument was the clarinet. In 1927, Rod, with his family, moved to Chicago where he played his first professional job with Frank Teschemacher and Bud Freeman (his brother-in-law). He played with several local bands in the Chicago area before joining Muggsy Spanier's Ragtime Band in 1939. He later worked for short periods with the popular pianist Art Hodes followed by stints with Marty Marsala, George Brunis, and Bobby Hackett. Rod also worked numerous times with Wild Bill Davison and Max Kaminsky. His main influences were Frank Teschemacher, Freeman, Johnny Dodds and Jimmy Noone. Rod Cless can probably be considered a member of The Austin High Gang of Chicago. Rod Cless died in 1944.
