Bob Parlocha facts for kids
Robert "Bob" Parlocha (April 18, 1938 – March 15, 2015) was an American jazz expert. He was famous as a radio host and programmer. Bob also played the saxophone and loved to cook. His nighttime jazz show, Jazz With Bob Parlocha, was heard across many radio stations.
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Bob's Early Life and Radio Start
Bob Parlocha was born in Solano, California, in 1938. He grew up in Vallejo, California. His mother loved big band jazz music, like Count Basie and Duke Ellington. This is how Bob first discovered jazz.
As a teenager, Bob played tenor and soprano saxophones. He also played the flute in his high school band. He even announced for touring bands. Bob graduated from Vallejo High School in 1956.
For about ten years, jazz was just a hobby for Bob. He worked as a nurse at UCSF. Later, he said this job helped him learn how to work with people. These skills were useful in the music business.
A radio station called KJAZ invited new DJs to send in tapes. Bob sent one in, and they hired him! He started as a programmer for Saturday evenings. In 1978, Bob became the host of the "Dinner Jazz Show."
Becoming a Jazz Voice
As Bob's show became more popular, his unique voice became well-known. People all over the Bay Area recognized him. Bob was good at choosing music and talking about jazz. He often hosted jazz concerts and fundraisers.
He helped with many big events. These included the Berkeley Jazz Festival and the San Francisco International KJAZ Festival. He also hosted on the SS Norway Jazz Cruises.
Music Director and Producer
Bob eventually became the music director at KJAZ. This meant he listened to new music. He decided which albums and songs would play on the station. KJAZ was one of the few jazz stations that reported what they played. This helped influence other stations and record sales.
Bob also created special radio shows. These included Black Masters and Latin Jazz. He also had On The Scene, which featured local musicians playing live. Another show, What's New, reviewed new albums with local experts.
Bob also worked as an engineer and producer for music albums. In 1982, he engineered albums for Martha Young and Steve Cohn. His first time producing an album was in 1985. It was for singer Laurie Antonioli, called "Soul Eyes."
Sharing Jazz Across the Country
In 1994, the KJAZ station was sold. But Bob's show, Jazz with Bob Parlocha, found a new home. WFMT, a big radio station in Chicago, decided to share his show. Bob recorded the show from his home in Alameda, California.
His evening show was picked up by many public radio stations. These included KUVO in Denver and WRCJ-FM in Detroit. WGBH-FM in Boston has played his show for many years. KKJZ in Long Beach, a top jazz station, started airing his program in 2007. The show is also heard on JAZZ.FM91 in Toronto, Ontario. It is also on KCSM (FM) in the Bay Area, which is like the new KJAZ.
After Bob passed away, some stations stopped playing his recorded shows. However, WFMT still offers an overnight jazz service with other hosts.
Other Hobbies and Contributions
Bob Parlocha also helped with the Jazz Journalist Association Awards. He often volunteered his time to support jazz, especially local musicians in the Bay Area. He continued to play the saxophone himself. He performed with the Bob Enos big band, Soundwave. They played at places like Rooster's Roadhouse and the San Jose Jazz Festival.
Bob also loved gourmet cooking. He even wrote a column called Cooking With Bob in the KJAZ newsletters. He often broadcast his "Dinner Jazz" show live from restaurants in the Bay Area.
Images for kids
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Jazz Radio host Bob Parlocha at his Oakland home, 9/16/86.
