Bob Telson facts for kids

Robert Eria Telson, born on May 14, 1949, is an American composer, songwriter, and pianist. He is famous for creating music for plays and movies. He has even been nominated for big awards like the Tony, Pulitzer, and Academy Awards!

About Bob Telson

Early Life and Musical Start

Robert Eria Telson was born in Cannes, France, in 1949. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Paula and David Telson.

Bob started playing piano when he was five. By age nine, he played a Mozart song on TV. He also gave a concert of his own music. When he was 14, he wrote 72 love songs for his first girlfriend.

At 16 and 17, he studied music in France. He learned organ, counterpoint, and harmony from Nadia Boulanger. He then earned a music degree from Harvard University in 1970.

While in high school, Bob played organ in a rock band called The Bristols. He also wrote songs for them. Later, at Harvard, he formed another band called Groundspeed. They recorded some of his songs in 1967. After Groundspeed, Bob started the Revolutionary Music Collective. The famous singer Bonnie Raitt was a lead singer in this group.

Professional Music Journey

After college, Bob Telson joined the Philip Glass Ensemble. He played with them from 1972 to 1974. Then, he started exploring world music. He became the pianist for famous salsa bandleaders like Tito Puente and Machito.

He also played organ for the gospel group Five Blind Boys of Alabama. He wrote, arranged, and produced music for them. In 1983, he worked with director Lee Breuer. Together, they created the musical The Gospel at Colonus. This play was based on an ancient Greek story by Sophocles. It featured Morgan Freeman and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama. Newsweek Magazine praised it highly.

Awards and Recognitions

Bob Telson has received many important nominations for his music. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his song "Calling You". This song was from the movie Bagdad Café.

He also received Pulitzer, Grammy, and Tony Award nominations. These were for his Broadway musicals. They included The Gospel at Colonus and Chronicle of a Death Foretold. This second musical was based on a novel by Gabriel García Márquez.

Bob has composed music for many films. These movies were made in America, France, Germany, and Argentina. He also wrote a ballet score for Twyla Tharp called Sextet. Many international artists have recorded his songs. These include Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, George Benson, and Celine Dion.

The New York Times newspaper has praised Bob Telson. They said he is very good at working with musicians from different cultures. They also noted his talent for writing exciting music in various styles. They described his music as a mix of world music styles. They said he brilliantly reimagines and improves them.

Latest Projects

Bob Telson's newest CDs are "Bantú" and "Desafiando las Distancias, Part II." Both of these albums were released in December 2024. His new musical, also called "Bantú," was presented in New York in October 2023. It was also shown in Uruguay in November 2024. Graciela Corso wrote the story and lyrics for "Bantú."

Musicals and Plays

• Sister Suzie Cinema – first shown in 1980.
• The Gospel at Colonus – first shown in 1983. It is still performed around the world.
• The Warrior Ant – first shown in 1988.
• Chronicle of a Death Foretold – first shown on Broadway in 1995.
• Bagdad Cafe the Musical – toured Europe from 2004 to 2006.
• Bantú – presented in concert in New York in October 2023. It was also shown in Uruguay in November 2024.

Music Albums

• The Gospel at Colonus (original cast recording) (1988)
• Bagdad Cafe (soundtrack) (1989)
• Calling You (1992)
• An Ant Alone: Songs from the Warrior Ant (1991)
• La Vida Según Muriel (soundtrack) (1997)
• Trip (with Isabel de Sebastian) (2008)
• Old LP (2012)
• American Dreamers (2016)
• Defying the Distances (2019)
• Bantú (2024)
• Desafiando las Distancias Part II (2024)

See also

In Spanish: Bob Telson para niños