Bob Leatherbarrow is a leading jazz and studio vibraphone player and drummer in Los Angeles. A versatile player, he’s appeared on hundreds
of records, movie and television soundtracks and national commercials.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Bob studied drums with Charlie Lorigo and began playing professionally at age fourteen. He also studied orchestral percussion with John Rowland of the Buffalo Philharmonic and vibes with Dave Samuels.
After attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Bob moved to Los Angeles and became a member of the Ernie Watts Quartet. He also played with many jazz greats including Bill Holman, Doc Severinsen, Peggy Lee, Victor Feldman, Bill Watrous, Joe Farrell, Natalie Cole, Mark Murphy, Rosemary Clooney, Billy Childs, John Klemmer, Howard Roberts, Mitchel Forman, Bill Perkins, Don Menza and Bobby Militello.
Bob’s long list of soundtrack credits includes movies such as Austin Powers 2, Rocky And Bullwinkle, the 20th Century Fox logo, Warner Bros. Looney Tunes, and Baby’s Day Out. TV shows include The Simpsons, Bette, Pinky And The Brain, Seinfeld, Dynasty, themes for Access Hollywood, theWB, ABC TV and many others.
In 1999 he released “Bumpin’ In The Basement” on Chartmaker Records which featured his compositions, as well as his playing. The CD did very well reaching #16 on the jazz charts for several weeks and remaining
in the top 20 for many more.
Many of Bob’s compositions have been recorded by other artists including Ernie Watts and Bobby Militello and are heard often on jazz stations across the globe.
Autobiography
• Born in Buffalo,New York,1955
• Began studying drums at age 10 with Charlie Lorigo,and later studied orchestral percussion with John Rowland of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and vibraphone with Dave Samuels
• Continued musical studies throughout high school including jazz and concert ensembles,was chosen for the All-New York State and All-County Orchestra programs, and recieved the Arion Achievement Award
• Began playing professionally at age 14
• Attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston,and was presented the “Outstanding Drummer Award” at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival with the Fredonia State College Jazz Ensemble
• Moved to Los Angeles in 1978,where I have had extensive experience in all facets of musical performance,both in the recording studio and live
Instruments:
• Drum Set
• Vibraphone
• Orchestral and Hand Percussion
• Electronic Percussion and programming
Recording Experience:
• Jazz and Fusion Artists:
Ernie Watts Billy Childs Bobby Militello
Bill Holman Angel Romero Sam Riney
Rosemary Clooney Brian Mann Bill Perkins
Les Hooper Mark Winkler Jamie Glaser
John Chiodini Emil Palame Lorraine Feather
Ray Anthony John Pizzarelli
• Pop Artists:
Jennifer Warnes Gordon Lightfoot The Temptations
Bette Midler Larry Gatlin Leonard Cohen
Engelbert Humperdinck Bobby Vinton Leon Redbone
Henry Mancini Sherri Belafonte Dianne Carroll
Dolly Parton Gary Morris
• Motion Picture Scores:
Baby’s Day Out Police Academy 5 J.F.K.
For Love Or Money No Way Out Lost Boys
Sweetheart’s Dance Betsy’s Wedding Dead Again
Best Defense Quicksilver Heartbreak Ridge
Club Paradise The Red Coat Dress Gray
Almost An Angel Hallmark Hall of Fame AMC Theater Logo
Necessary Roughness Can’t Buy Me Love Till I Kissed Ya
Tiny Toon Adventures Bushwacked Mr. Wrong
Robin Hood:Men in Tights Bottle Rocket
Dracula:Dead and Loving It Glimmer Man
Warner Bros. Looney Tunes-Bugs Bunny Drop Dead Gorgeous
20th Century Fox Motion Picture & TV Fanfare Sorority Boys
Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me Rocky And Bullwinkle
• Television Soundtracks:
Dynasty Falcon Crest Who’s The Boss
The Simpsons Matt Houston Murphy Brown
Fantasy Island Married With Children Seinfeld
Bette The Love Boat The Colbys
Square Pegs ABC TV Logo The Charmings
China Beach The New Gidget Stuntmasters
Max Headroom Daddy Dearest Hotel
Phil Donahue Show theme Blue Skies
various “Movie of the Week” scores WB network logos Showtime “Drive-In Classics” Access Hollywood theme
Star Trek-Deep Space Nine In Cold Blood
Histeria Pinky and the Brain Time and Again
Casper Sylvester & Tweety 101 Dalmations
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Morton & Hayes The Drew Carey Show
• TV and Radio Commercials:
Coca-Cola Sprite Dreyer’s Ice Cream
Budweiser Shearson-Lehman Bros. Burger King
Anhueser-Busch Nat.Lite Minute Maid Armor-All
Ford Chevrolet Dodge
Nissan Honda Peugeot
Levi’s Century 21 Great Western Bank
Cheetos Quaker Oats Midas Muffler
Kellog’s Cereals Hunt’s Sunny Delite
America West Airlines L.A.Gear Sutter Home Wine
California Lottery Infinity ...and many others
• Have worked and continue to work for major composers such as:
Bill Conti
Bruce Broughton
Alf Clausen
Basil Poledouris
Henry Mancini
George S. Clinton
Hummie Mann
Jonathon Wolff
Ashley Irwin
Don Grady
Richard Stone
Robert Folk
Mark Mothersbaugh
Jay Chattaway
Tours/Performances:
• Artists:
Ernie Watts Quartet
Doc Severinsen
Bill Holman Big Band
Peggy Lee
Natalie Cole (“Unforgettable”tour)
Victor Feldman
Bill Watrous
Howard Roberts
Joe Farrell
Mark Murphy
John Klemmer
Bobby Lyle
The Joffrey Ballet
Don Menza
The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Pedro Aznar
Bob Hope
Rosemary Clooney
• Live Television performances:
The Tonight Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Late Show starring Joan Rivers
The Screen Actors Guild Awards
Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” Premier live from the Superdome
The 1st and 2nd annual TV Guide Awards
Teaching/Clinics:
• Have given private instruction at various stages of my career
• Also have done artist-clinics both individually and in context with the Ernie Watts Quartet at both colleges and festivals
Equipment Endorsements:
• Paiste cymbals
Composing:
• My instrumental compositions have been recorded and performed by many other artists including Ernie Watts, Bobby Militello, Mark Winkler and Amarna
• Pop songs have been recorded by artists including Kaho Shimada of Japan and BMG artists Girlfriend of Australia,which went both gold and double-platinum
Jean Michel Biger
