Bobby Lyle facts for kids

Robert Lyle, born on March 11, 1944, is an amazing jazz pianist and organ player. He is also a teacher who helps others learn music. He has had a long and successful career in music.

Bobby Lyle's Early Life and Musical Start

Bobby Lyle was born in Memphis, Tennessee. His family moved to Minneapolis when he was just one year old. He grew up in a home filled with music. His mother was a church organist. She taught him piano when he was only six years old.

Bobby quickly showed a talent for music. In junior high, he played clarinet and flute in the school band. He also kept taking piano lessons. He started playing jazz music by listening and learning on his own. When he was 16, he got his first professional music job. A drummer named Harry Dillon hired him to play in his trio. They played at a private club in St. Paul, Minnesota.

After high school, Bobby went to Macalester College. He studied piano there for two years. Then, he decided to become a full-time musician. Soon, he joined a group called Young-Holt Unlimited. He toured with them, playing jazz music across the country. In 1970, Bobby even met the famous musician Jimi Hendrix. They briefly played together. Hendrix was planning to start a new jazz-rock band with Bobby. Sadly, Hendrix passed away later that year.

Bobby Lyle's Exciting Music Career

Bobby Lyle got his first chance to record music in 1973. He won an 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 many recordings.

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. He toured with them for the rest of that year. After that, Bobby met a trombonist named Wayne Henderson. Henderson helped Bobby get a record deal with Capitol Records.

This deal led to three albums. The first one was the classic The Genie in 1977. Later, Bobby toured with jazz legend George Benson. He also became the music director for many famous singers. These included Phyllis Hyman, Bette Midler, Al Jarreau, and Anita Baker. In 1999, he even received an Emmy nomination for his work with Bette Midler.

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

Bobby Lyle's Recent Work and Inspiring Others

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

Bobby also works as a jazz piano teacher. He gives special classes at colleges and high schools. On November 8, 2020, Bobby was honored. He was inducted into the Black Music Awards Hall of Fame in Houston, Texas. In 2021, his song "Living in the Flow" was nominated for an Emmy Award.

In March 2021, he released a new album called Ivory Flow. This album brought him back to the smooth jazz style he helped create. The song "Living In the Flow" from the album was very popular on the radio.

Bobby Lyle still performs with his own band today. He also continues to teach jazz piano to students. He gives private lessons and leads workshops. Walker Elementary School in Houston has even started a "Bobby Lyle Music Scholarship Fund." Bobby encourages students to write essays about why they want to study music. The scholarship helps two students who truly love music and need financial help. They receive money for an instrument and private lessons. The money comes from sales of Bobby's CDs.

Discography

As a Guest Musician

Bobby Lyle has also played on albums for other artists. Here are some of them: With George Benson

• Good King Bad (CTI, 1975)

With Benny Golson

• Killer Joe (Columbia, 1977)

With Eddie Harris

• That Is Why You're Overweight (Atlantic, 1975)

With Pharoah Sanders and Norman Connors

• Beyond a Dream (Arista Novus, 1981)

With Gábor Szabó

• Faces (Mercury, 1977)