Bobbi Humphrey facts for kids

Bobbi Humphrey, born Barbara Ann Humphrey on April 25, 1950, is a talented American musician. She plays the flute and sings jazz music. Over her career, she has released twelve albums, often blending jazz with funk and soul music. In 1971, she made history as the first female musician to sign with Blue Note Records. Later, in 1994, she started her own music company called Paradise Sounds Records.

Bobbi Humphrey's Early Life

Growing Up in Texas

Bobbi Humphrey was born in Marlin, Texas. She grew up in Dallas. She finished high school at Lincoln High School in 1968. During high school, she studied both classical and jazz flute.

College and a Big Dream

She continued her music studies at Texas Southern University and Southern Methodist University. A famous jazz musician, Dizzy Gillespie, saw her play at a talent show. He encouraged her to move to New York City to pursue her music dreams. Bobbi took his advice and moved to New York in June 1971. Her first big chance came when she performed at the famous Apollo Theater on Amateur Night.

Bobbi Humphrey's Music Career

Starting Out in New York

Just a few weeks after arriving in New York, Bobbi signed with Blue Note Records. She was already performing regularly around the city. She even played with jazz legend Herbie Mann in Central Park. She also had a surprise performance on The Tonight Show. In 1971, she joined trumpeter Lee Morgan's band for his last album. Morgan also helped with Bobbi's first album, Flute-In, released in 1971.

Playing with Music Stars

Bobbi Humphrey has played with many famous musicians. These include Duke Ellington and George Benson. Benson and Humphrey were guest musicians on Stevie Wonder's song "Another Star." This song was from his 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life. In 1976, Billboard magazine named her the Best Female Instrumentalist.

Famous Performances and Influences

Bobbi has performed at many well-known venues. These include the Apollo Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, and Carnegie Hall. She has also played at big events like the Montreux Jazz Festival. She looks up to other flutists and musicians like Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, and James Moody.

Breakthrough Albums

Her 1973 album, Blacks and Blues, was one of her most popular for Blue Note. For this album, she changed her style from traditional jazz. She worked with the Mizell Brothers, who were known for mixing funk with jazz. Blacks and Blues was recorded very quickly, in just three days. Bobbi often improvised her flute playing on the tracks. This means she made up her parts as she played, without written music. The album was a big success, reaching number 84 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Her 1974 album, Satin Doll, continued her blend of soul jazz and funk. This album was dedicated to Duke Ellington, who had recently passed away. The album cover features Bobbi's daughter, Ricci Lynn. Satin Doll was also very popular, reaching number 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. Her album Fancy Dancer was her third and final project with the Mizell Brothers.

Beyond Performing

Even though her albums sold well, Bobbi didn't always see a lot of the money from them. So, in 1977, she decided to get involved in the business side of music. She started her own company, Innovative Artist Management. She also created The Bobbi Humphrey Music Company, which signed a deal with Warner Bros. in 1990. Bobbi helped singer Tevin Campbell start his music career. In 1994, she launched her own record label, Paradise Sounds Records. She released her album Passion Flute on this new label that same year.

Music Samples and Collaborations

Many of Bobbi Humphrey's songs, especially from Blacks and Blues, have been used by other artists. Her music has been sampled by famous hip-hop artists like Eric B. & Rakim, Grand Puba, Digable Planets, Mobb Deep, Ludacris, and Ice-T. In 2002, rapper Common invited her to play on his album, Electric Circus.

Bobbi Humphrey's Albums

Albums as a Leader

Albums as a Guest Musician

Bobbi Humphrey has also played on albums for other artists:

• With Common: Electric Circus (2002)
• With Gwen Guthrie: Lifeline (1988)
• With Lee Morgan: The Last Session (recorded 1971, released 1972)
• With Stevie Wonder: Songs in The Key of Life (1976)
• With Various Artists: Montreux Summit Volume 1 (1977) and Montreux Summit Volume 2 (1977)