Bob DeVos (born 1946) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

guitarist, vocalist, and teacher from New Jersey.

Early life

DeVos failed a "music appreciation" class in his first year of college, which he later dropped out from.

Career

His style combines blues, rhythm and blues, and jazz. "I wanted to play like

B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shi ...

and

Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...

", DeVos said. At twelve, he began playing guitar, trying to figure out solos from his brother's R&B records. He took lessons from

Joe Cinderella Joseph Richard Cinderella (June 14, 1927 – October 27, 2012) was an American jazz guitarist and educator. Guitarist Eugene Chadbourne, writing for Allmusic.com, said of Cinderella: "He was a technically brilliant, original player who for long p ...

. In high school he became interested in jazz after hearing albums by organist Jimmy Smith with guitarist

Kenny Burrell Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931) is an American jazz guitarist known for his work on numerous top jazz labels: Prestige, Blue Note, Verve, CTI, Muse, and Concord. His collaborations with Jimmy Smith were notable, and produced the 1965 ...

and the album ''

The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

''. After graduating, he went on tour with

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons The Four Seasons are an American rock and pop band formed in 1960 in Newark, New Jersey. Since 1970, they have also been known at times as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The band evolved out of a previous band called The Four Lovers, with ...

and took lessons from

Harry Leahey Harry F. Leahey (September 1, 1935 — August 12, 1990) was an American jazz guitarist and teacher. Biography Guitar studies Leahey received his first guitar, a Stella, at the age of thirteen. He went on to study with Lou Melia at Sayer's S ...

and Dennis Sandole. In 1969 he got a job with

Trudy Pitts Gertrude E. "Trudy" Pitts (August 10, 1932 – December 19, 2010) was an American soul jazz keyboardist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was known primarily for playing the Hammond B3 organ. Biography Trained as a musician and a music e ...

after it was vacated by

Pat Martino Pat Martino (born Patrick Carmen Azzara; August 25, 1944 – November 1, 2021) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. Biography Martino was born Patrick Carmen Azzara in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, to father Carmen "Mickey" ...

and toured extensively. His recording career began with a 1970 music session. Beginning in the late 1970s, he was a member of bands led by

Gerry Niewood Gerry Niewood (April 6, 1943 – February 12, 2009), born Gerard Joseph Nevidosky, was an American jazz saxophonist and flutist who worked often with Chuck Mangione. Like Mangione, Niewood was born in Rochester, New York, and graduated from the ...

Teo Macero Attilio Joseph "Teo" Macero (October 30, 1925 – February 19, 2008) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer. He was a producer at Columbia Records for twenty years. Macero produced Miles Davis' '' Bitches Brew'', and ...

Jimmy McGriff James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader. Biography Early years and influences Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, United States, McGriff started playing pi ...

, and Charles Earland. Earland produced his first album for

Savant Savant syndrome () is a rare condition in which someone with significant mental disabilities demonstrates certain abilities far in excess of average. The skills that savants excel at are generally related to memory. This may include rapid calcu ...

. He has also worked with Harry Allen,

Freddy Cole Lionel Frederick Cole (October 15, 1931 – June 27, 2020) was an American jazz singer and pianist whose recording career spanned almost 70 years. He was the brother of musicians Nat King Cole, Eddie Cole, and Ike Cole, father of Lionel Cole, a ...

Junior Cook Herman "Junior" Cook (July 22, 1934 – February 3, 1992) was an American hard bop tenor saxophone player. Biography Cook was born in Pensacola, Florida. After playing with Dizzy Gillespie in 1958, Cook was a member of the Horace Silver Quin ...

Joey DeFrancesco Joey DeFrancesco (April 10, 1971August 25, 2022) was an American jazz organist, trumpeter, saxophonist, and occasional singer. He released more than 30 albums under his own name, and recorded extensively as a sideman with such leading jazz perfo ...

, Kenny Drew Jr.,

Etta Jones Etta Jones (November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Her best-known recordings are "Don't Go to Strangers" and "Save Your Love for Me". She worked with Buddy Johnson, Oliver Nelson, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard, Gene A ...

Gene Ludwig Gene Ludwig (September 4, 1937 – July 14, 2010) was an American jazz and rhythm and blues organist, who recorded as a leader as well as a sideman for Sonny Stitt, Arthur Prysock, Scott Hamilton, Bob DeVos, and Leslie West, and others. Ludwig ...

Ron McClure Ron McClure (born November 22, 1941) is an American jazz bassist. Early life McClure was born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. He started on piano at age five, and later played accordion and bass. McClure studied privately with Joseph I ...

David "Fathead" Newman David "Fathead" Newman (February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009) was an American jazz and rhythm-and-blues saxophonist, who made numerous recordings as a session musician and leader, but is best known for his work as a sideman on seminal 1950s an ...

, Greg Osby,

Houston Person Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the ...

Irene Reid Irene Reid (September 23, 1930 – January 5, 2008) was an American jazz singer. Early life Reid was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. She sang in church and in high school in Georgia, and moved to New York City in 1947 after her mother d ...

Dr. Lonnie Smith Lonnie Smith (July 3, 1942 – September 28, 2021), styled Dr. Lonnie Smith, was an American jazz Hammond B3 organist who was a member of the George Benson quartet in the 1960s. He recorded albums with saxophonist Lou Donaldson for Blue Note be ...

Dave Stryker Dave Stryker (born March 30, 1957) is an American jazz guitarist. He has recorded over twenty-five albums as a leader and has been a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and Kevin Mahogany. Career Stryker grew up in Omaha, Nebr ...

Stanley Turrentine Stanley William Turrentine (April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He began his career playing R&B for Earl Bostic and later soul jazz recording for the Blue Note label from 1960, touched on jazz fusion ...

, and

Ian Finkel Ian Lawrence Finkel (August 13, 1948 – November 16, 2020) was an American musician specializing in the xylophone, author, and entertainer. Early life and education Finkel was the son of Fyvush Finkel, and Gertrude (Lieberman) Finkel. His bro ...

. He is an adjunct professor at the private college

Lehigh University Lehigh University (LU) is a private research university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The university was established in 1865 by businessman Asa Packer and was originally affiliated with the Epi ...

. He was the organizer for the Organ Summit in Newark, New Jersey.

Discography

As leader

* ''Breaking the Ice'' (Savant, 1999) with Charles Earland * ''DeVos' Groove Guitar!'' (Blues Leaf, 2003) with

, Billy James * ''Shifting Sands'' (Savant, 2006) with Eric Alexander * ''Playing for Keeps'' (Savant, 2007) with Eric Alexander * ''Shadow Box'' (American Showplace Music, 2013) with Ralph Bowen * ''Six String Solos'' (American Showplace Music, 2016)

As sideman

* Charles Earland, ''Blowing the Blues Away'' (HighNote, 1997) * Charles Earland, ''Charles Earland Live'' (Cannonball, 1999) * Onaje Allan Gumbs, ''Sack Full of Dreams'' (18th & Vine, 2007) *

Richard "Groove" Holmes Richard Arnold "Groove" Holmes (May 2, 1931 – June 29, 1991) was an American jazz organist who performed in the hard bop and soul jazz genre. He is best known for his 1965 recording of " Misty". Career Holmes's first album, on Pacific ...

, ''Good Vibrations'' (Muse, 1980) *

, ''The Groove ORGANization'' (Blues Leaf, 2002) with Billy James * Gene Ludwig Trio with Bill Warfield Big Band, ''Duff's Blues'' (18th & Vine, 2008) *

, ''Impressions of Charles Mingus'' (Palo Alto, 1983) *

, ''Match Point'' (SteepleChase, 2002) * Ron McClure, ''Age of Peace'' (SteepleChase, 2003) *

, ''Million Dollar Secret'' (Savant, 1997) * Irene Reid, ''I Ain't Doing Too Bad'' (Savant, 1999) * Vince Seneri, ''Urban Paradise'' (Senful/Orchard, 2003) * Vince Seneri, ''Street Talk'' (Senful/Orchard, 2005) * Tyrone Smith, ''Playing It By Ear'' (18th & Vine, 2010) *

Akiko Tsuruga is a jazz composer, Hammond B-3 organist and pianist from Osaka, Japan. She was born in Osaka. Her parents bought her a small organ when she was three and she started learning to play standards. At high school, she listened to Hammond B3 players ...

, ''Sakura'' (American Showplace Music, 2011) *

Reuben Wilson Reuben Wilson (born April 9, 1935) is a jazz organist. He performs soul jazz and acid jazz, and is best known for his title track "Got to Get Your Own". He was born in Mounds, Oklahoma and his family moved to Pasadena when he was 5. He played in ...

Trio, ''Revisited'' (American Showplace Music, 2011)

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devos, Bob 1946 births Living people American jazz guitarists Musicians from Paterson, New Jersey Guitarists from New Jersey American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians