Robert Eugene Spalding (born February 10, 1947) is an American musician, composer, arranger, and producer. He is best known for his work with

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...

group

the Ventures The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in Tacoma, Washington, in 1958, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, which was a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar across the world during the ...

and he has appeared on over 40 Ventures albums from 1980 through to the present. Spalding continues to tour, record, as well as produce with the Ventures as well as other artists.

Early career

Spalding saw the Ventures,

Bob Bogle Robert Lenard Bogle (January 16, 1934 – June 14, 2009) was a founding member of the instrumental combo The Ventures. He and Don Wilson founded the group in 1958. Bogle was the lead guitarist and later bassist of the group. In 2008, Bogle and oth ...

and Don Wilson, on stage on their first visit to Japan in 1962 and he was very impressed with their performance. This inspired him further in learning to play the guitar, while never imagining that he would, in the future, become a member of the Ventures and he would return to Japan many times on tour with them. His father had been posted to Japan with the Military and the Spalding family lived there for three years. After the family returned to the US later in 1962, Spalding played in his first band, the Nomads, all through High School in Austin, Texas. The Nomads were his first experience with recording and producing. The band, featuring his older brother Perry Spalding on drums, recorded several unreleased singles and one album. However, before the group could capitalise on their full commercial potential, Spalding was drafted into the army. After tour of duty in Vietnam, he enrolled in college where he received a major in Business and a minor in Marketing. After graduating from college in San Bernardino, he continued to play with various California bands and to submit his original compositions to music publishing companies in Los Angeles.

Starting in the music business

Sweet Pain

In 1970, Spalding had an opportunity to join a group that was poised to sign a recording contract with

Liberty Records Liberty Records was a record label founded in the United States by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revival ...

. The group, Sweet Pain, completed their first album after Spalding joined the group and they toured the US as an opening act for many established artists. When the group was in Southern California they played regularly at the famous

Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin. History The winn ...

in Huntington Beach where they often opened for established acts like Linda Ronstadt, War, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and where Spalding once had the experience of playing in the backup band for Chuck Berry. Sweet Pain recorded two additional singles as well as a second unreleased album before the band left

United Artists Records United Artists Records was an American record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 to issue movie soundtracks. The label expanded into other genres, such as easy listening, jazz, pop, and R&B. History Genres In 1959, ...

. However, prior to them leaving, the group used the pseudonym Dolphin Market to record an instrumental entitled Diego.

Mel Taylor and the Dynamics

While working at United Artists, Bob had the opportunity to meet the Ventures and to attend some of their recording and rehearsal sessions. He became friends with

Mel Taylor Mel Taylor (September 24, 1933 – August 11, 1996) was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the Ventures from 1962 to 1996. He was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, and was the older brother of Canned Heat bassist Larry Ta ...

, drummer for the group, which would soon prove fortunate for Bob, as he had recently been released from a record company contract at United Artists and he was looking for another opportunity. Bob was then invited to join Mel Taylor, who had left the Ventures to pursue a solo career as Mel Taylor and the Dynamics, with Bob playing rhythm guitar. The group toured Japan in 1973 and they recorded two albums with Bob playing both electric and acoustic guitars. By 1980, Mel Taylor had rejoined the Ventures and Bob Spalding was regularly asked to play additional guitar on recording sessions for the Ventures.

The Ventures and beyond

Spalding's extensive recording studio work for the Ventures since 1980 resulted in him often being referred to as The 5th Venture. He also deputised regularly on guitar or bass guitar for the Ventures on live concerts until 2005 when he joined the band permanently when Bob Bogle retired from touring. On March 10, 2008 the Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Bob Bogle was unable to attend, so Spalding accepted the award on his behalf and he performed with the Ventures live on stage at the event. Spalding had initially taken over from Bob Bogle in 2005 playing bass guitar for recording purposes and for their annual tour of Japan, but following the retirement of Gerry McGee in 2017, Spalding took over from him as lead guitarist of the Ventures with Leon Taylor (drums), Ian Spalding (rhythm guitar), and Luke Griffin (bass guitar) completing the band.

Recognition and Awards

* For his US Army Service, Spalding was awarded the

National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It is awarded to every member of the US Armed Forces who has served during any one of four sp ...

, the

Vietnam Service Medal The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established on 8 July 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during the Vietnam War by all members of the U.S. A ...

, the

Vietnam Campaign Medal The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, also known as the Vietnam Campaign Medal ( vi, Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh), is a South Vietnamese military campaign medal which was created in 1949, and awarded to French military personnel during the First ...

with 60 device, and 2 O/S Bars for his service during the Vietnam War and the 1968

Tet Offensive The Tet Offensive was a major escalation and one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War. It was launched on January 30, 1968 by forces of the Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) against the forces o ...

. * He was recognised by the Ventures to accept the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction for Bob Bogle in 2008. * In 2011, Spalding was recognised by the Bogle family to accept the award at the induction of Bob Bogle into the

Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, honors Oklahoma musicians for their lifetime achievements in music. The induction ceremony and concert are held each year in Muskogee. Since its establishment in 1997, the Hall of Fa ...

. * In June 2010, Spalding and the other members of the Ventures were awarded the prestigious

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight ...

medal by the Emperor of Japan for their contributions to Japanese Culture.

Original compositions

Spalding has composed over 45 songs. Many have been recorded by the Ventures and other artists.

Recorded by Bob Spalding

* Night Bird, Catalina Magic, Premonition, Bananaz, Edge of Forever, Hop-Scotch, V.B. Normal, Tsunami, Rainbow Girl on The World is a Curious Place. Cassette tape. Big Dog/Little Dog BDLD-C001. 1990. USA. * Rachel, Red Sunset, The Jaguar, Long Boards, Gray Shadows, Opus for Guitar in A Minor on The 5th Venture. CD. M&I Company. MYCV-30335. 2005. Japan. * Issa's Treasure, Catalina Sun, Spider's Web, Casa Blanco on The 5th Venture. CD. Big Dog/Little Dog BDLD-003. 2007. USA. * Chevy 396, Unheard Voices, Transition, Friends, The Long Walk Home, Epigraphical Likeness, Outlaw Hills, The Broken Road on Transitions. CD. Category 1 Music. CAT I 1003. 2012. USA.

Recorded by the Ventures

* Blue Dawn on the single Venture 25 / Blue Dawn. Tridex 502. 1982. USA. * Stompers, Spindrift on the vinyl album Stars on Guitars. Tridex TDX 1245. 1982. USA. * Columbia on the NASA 25th Anniversary Album. CD. Allegiance CDP 72873. 1983. USA. * Flashback, Strawberry Brandy, Cartoon, Snows of Nagano on the CD Flyin’ High. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-7239. 1992. Japan. * Shonan Shores on the CD Mega Hits. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-7847. 1993. Japan. * Web Surfin' on the CD Wild Again 2. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-50220. 1997. Japan. * Blue Dawn on the CD New Depths. GNP Crescendo GNPD 2259. 1999. USA. * Jewel, Night Bird, Bermuda, Mal-Funk-Shun on the CD Walk don’t Run 2000. M&I Company MYCV-30002. 1999. Japan. * Bimini Bay on the CD V-Gold III. M&I Company MYCV-30092. 2001. Japan. * Echoes of Sendai, Sapporo Spring, Japan Surf on the CD Memories of Japan. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-71298. 2012. Japan. * Rincon, Magic Kids, Leviathan, Crouching Lion, V-Ray on the CD Then, Now, and Forever. M&I Company MYCV-30639. 2013. Japan. * Go-Go Wave on the CD Go Go Best plus. M&I Company MYCV-30643. 2014 Japan. * Big Surf, Vladivostok on the CD Hits and New. M&I Company MYCV-30654. 2016. Japan. * Night in F Minor, Bahia de Los Angeles, Ame no Kyoto, Infinite Monkey, Evening Shadows, Fire Lights, Dark Eyes, Here we go again! on the CD Here we go again! M&I Company MYCV-30659. 2018. Japan. * Moon Base Drive, The Alien, Space Suit, The Mercury Run, Sea of Tranquility, Pi, Last Party on the Moon on the CD New Space. M&I Company MYCV-30669. 2022. Japan.

Recorded by other artists

* Grand Slalom (Columbia) by Bernard Arcadio on Meldac Mel-12. Vinyl album. 1986. Japan. * Blue Dawn by

Mari Henmi is a Japanese singer, tarento, and actress. She was born in Zushi, Kanagawa and raised in Kyōto. Career She made her debut in 1969 with the song "Daniel, mon amour". At age 20, she became famous due to the song "''Yameté...''" and for her s ...

on Bel-Age with the Ventures. CD. Panam CRCP20044. 1992. Japan. * Blue Dawn (Minato No Hinageshi) by Mari Henmi on Kayo Taizen CD. M&I Company MYCV-30007. 1999. Japan. * Kozakai Warrior by the Charades on the Wild Cards CD. Power GPCD023-2. 2008. Finland. * Bullet Wave by BCV on Harashouten Hara00001. 2012. Japan. * Sendai Dream by BCV on Harashouten Hara00001. 2012. Japan.* Hazy Hollow by

Janne Haavisto Janne Pekka Haavisto (born 28 November 1964 in Espoo, Finland) is a Finnish drummer, recording engineer and record producer. He has been a professional musician since the age of 16, that is, from 1983 on. Career as a musician In his youth, Haa ...

on Mufarang International Mufa-22. 2017. Finland. * Night Bird, I will Return by Gerry McGee on Gerry McGee Forever CD. M&I Company MYCV-30670. 2022. Japan.

Discography

Bob Spalding solo record releases

* The World is a Curious Place. Cassette tape. Big Dog/Little Dog BDLD-C001. 1990. USA. * The 5th Venture. CD. M&I Company. MYCV-30335. 2005. Japan. * The 5th Venture. CD. Big Dog/Little Dog BDLD-003. 2007. USA. * Transitions. CD. Category 1 Music. CAT I 1003. 2012. USA.

Sweet Pain

* Sweet Pain. Vinyl album. United Artists UAS 6793. 1970. USA. * Upside-down, Inside-out Woman / Berkeley Lady. Single. United Artists 50761. 1970. USA. * Diego / The Witness. Single. Recorded as Dolphin Market. Avalanche 36009. 1972. USA.

Mel Taylor and the Dynamics

* Mel Taylor and the Dynamics. Roll over Beethoven. Vinyl album. Dan VC-7510. 1974. Japan. * Mel Taylor and the Dynamics. Live in Japan ’73. CD. Bad News Records BNCY-29. 1997. Japan.

The Ventures

* Stars on Guitars. Tridex TDX 1245. Vinyl album. 1982. USA. * NASA 25th Anniversary Album. CD. Allegiance CDP 72873. 1983. USA. * The Orange Sisters with the Ventures. CD. Moon Records. Moon 20823. 1984. Japan. * The Compact Ventures. CD. Garland GRZ003. 1987. USA. * Radical Guitars. CD. Iloki ILCD1006. 1987. USA. * The Ventures play Southern All Stars. CD.

Toshiba-EMI , formerly , was one of Japan's leading music companies. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of British music company EMI Group Ltd. on June 30, 2007, after Toshiba sold off its previous 45% stake. Its CEO and president was Kazuhiko Koike. When ...

TOCP-6110. 1990. Japan. * The Ventures play Seaside Story. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-6740. 1991. Japan. * The Ventures play Major Motion Pictures. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-6775. 1991. Japan. * Tokyo Calling (60’s Pops in Japan). CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCT-6378. 1992. Japan. * Flyin’ High. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-7239. 1992. Japan. * Mega Hits. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-7847. 1993. Japan. * Wild Again 2. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-50220. 1997. Japan. * Space 2001. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30006. 1999. Japan. * New Depths. CD.

GNP Crescendo The gross national income (GNI), previously known as gross national product (GNP), is the total domestic and foreign output claimed by residents of a country, consisting of gross domestic product (GDP), plus factor incomes earned by foreign ...

GNPD 2259. 1999. USA. * Walk don’t Run 2000. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30002. 1999. Japan. * The Ventures play Runaway (Don Wilson’s favourite songs). CD. M&I Company. MYCV-30005. 1999. Japan. * Acoustic Rock. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30047. 2000. Japan. * The Ventures play Southern All Stars - Tsunami. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30093. 2001. Japan. * 60’s Rocking’ Christmas. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30123. 2001. Japan. * Christmas Joy. CD.

Varese Sarabande Varese ( , , or ; lmo, label=Varesino, Varés ; la, Baretium; archaic german: Väris) is a city and ''comune'' in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, north-west of Milan. The population of Varese in 2018 has reached 80,559. It is the ca ...

302066 4012. 2002. USA. * Your Hit Parade 60’s. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30195. 2003. Japan. * J-Rock Summer Wind. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30333. 2005. Japan. * Your Hit Parade II. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30384. 2006. Japan. * Live in Tokyo. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30421. 2006. Japan. * Rocky. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-70259. 2007. Japan. * The Ventures and the Wailers. Two-Car Garage. CD. Blue Horizon BH 100-1. 2009. USA. * The Ventures play Kayama Yuzo. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-70735. 2009. Japan. * Hawaii 5-0 – Original Artists New Recording. CD. VentureX Music VXM 102. 2010. USA. * In My Life - the Ventures play the Beatles. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-70839. 2010. Japan. * The Ventures in Japan Live 2000. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30588. 2011. Japan. * Bob Bogle Memorial Album. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-71095. 2011. Japan. * Memories of Japan. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP-71298. 2012. Japan. * Then, Now, and Forever. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30639. 2013. Japan. * The Ventures play Yuming. CD. Toshiba-EMI TOCP- 71548. 2013. Japan. * Sounds of Summer. CD.

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...

UICY-15332. 2014. Japan. * Go Go Best plus. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30643. 2014 Japan. * Hits and New. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30654. 2016. Japan. * Here we go again. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30659. 2018. Japan. * The Ventures Live at Daryl's House Club. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30664. 2019. Japan. * The Ventures 60th Anniversary Best Album. CD. M&I Company MYCV-30665. 2019. Japan. * New Space CD. M&I Company MYCV-30669. 2022. Japan.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spalding, Bob 1947 births Surf musicians Musicians from San Bernardino, California United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun Living people