Bobby Lyle facts for kids

Robert Lyle, born on March 11, 1944, is a talented American jazz pianist and organ player. He is also an educator, meaning he teaches music to others. He has been making music since the 1960s and is known for his jazz, soul jazz, and smooth jazz styles.

Bobby Lyle's Early Life and Music

Bobby Lyle was born in Memphis, Tennessee. When he was just one year old, his family moved to Minneapolis. He grew up in a home filled with music. His mother was a church organist and became his first piano teacher when he was six.

As he got older, Bobby showed a natural talent for music. In junior high, he played the clarinet and flute in the school band. He also kept taking piano lessons. He started learning jazz music by listening and playing along.

When he was 16, Bobby got his first professional music job. A drummer named Harry Dillon hired him to play in his trio at a private club. After high school, Bobby studied piano at Macalester College for two years. He then decided to become a full-time musician.

Soon after, he joined a group called Young-Holt Unlimited. He toured with them, playing jazz music across the country. In 1970, Bobby even played briefly with the famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix. They had plans to start a jazz-rock band together, but sadly, Hendrix passed away later that year.

Bobby Lyle's Musical Journey

Bobby Lyle's first chance to record music came in 1973. He won an international organ competition sponsored by Yamaha Music. This led to his first album, Bobby Lyle Plays the Electone GX707. This album was the start of his long career in music.

In 1974, Bobby and his family moved to Los Angeles, California. He wanted to pursue his music career there. He soon joined the famous band Sly and the Family Stone and toured with them. After that, he met Wayne Henderson, a trombonist. Henderson helped Bobby connect with other musicians and eventually get a record deal.

Bobby signed with Capitol Records and released three albums. His first album with them, The Genie, came out in 1977. Later, Capitol Records stopped their jazz music division.

In the early 1980s, Bobby toured with well-known artists like George Benson. He also became the music director for singers such as Phyllis Hyman, Bette Midler, Al Jarreau, and Anita Baker. Being a music director means he helped guide the music for their performances. In 1999, he even received an Emmy nomination for his work with Bette Midler's TV special.

In 1987, Bobby signed a new deal with Atlantic Records. He released six albums with them over nine years. His 1990 album, The Journey, even reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Chart! He later released more albums with other music labels.

Recent Music and Teaching

In 2013, Bobby Lyle started his own music label called "New Warrior Music." He also has a company called Genie Productions. Through his own label, he released an album called The Way I Feel. This album was a tribute to his favorite organ player, Jimmy Smith.

Bobby also enjoys teaching music. He works as a jazz piano instructor and holds special classes called "master classes" at colleges and high schools. On November 8, 2020, Bobby Lyle was honored by being inducted into the Black Music Awards Hall of Fame in Houston, Texas.

In March 2021, he released his album Ivory Flow. The song "Living In the Flow" from this album was very popular on the radio.

Today, Bobby Lyle continues to perform with his own band. He also teaches jazz piano to students both privately and in workshops. Walker Elementary School in Houston has even created a "Bobby Lyle Music Scholarship Fund." This fund helps students who love music get instruments and private lessons. The money for the scholarships comes from the sale of Bobby's CDs.

Bobby Lyle's Albums

Here are some of the albums Bobby Lyle has released: