The Bob Claire Orchestra
The Bob Claire Orchestra is a lively 10 piece band specializing in dance and party music spanning rock, R & B, jazz and blues.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
The Bob Claire Orchestra, based in the East Bay cities of Oakland, Alameda, Emeryville, Richmond and Orinda has been playing a mix of dance and party music since 1999. Though the lineup has evolved over the years, the core of the band has remained constant. Central to the group is the talent of our female vocalist, Miss Darlene Langston.
Darlene met up with guitarist Michael Stearns on the San Francisco to Alameda ferry, where trumpeter Jeff Oster encountered an end-of-the-month party for commuters which was hosted by none other than Bob Claire and his lovely wife Penny. Bassist Rocky Laber knew Michael through their kids and was invited to sit in around May of '99. Taking notice of the common tastes in music, a jam away from the boat was organized, which brought keyboardist Ron Tague and vocalist Gail Foster into the mix. Ron, Gail and Rocky had been involved in a musical projects dating back to the late 80's and had built up a sizable song list that covered considerable ground, drawing from from R&B, rock, jazz and even country.
Trombonist Colin Johnston sat in at an Oakland public school function in 2001, and so impressive were his singing and playing talents, it was decided that an entire horn section would greatly expand the repertoire to include even more material in which the band could thrive behind the singing of Darlene and Gail. Through an acquaintance of a spouse, saxophonist Michael Bush came into the band in 2002. The Pretty Penny Horns were officially intact. Percussionist Justin Langston, nephew of Darlene, started sitting in at the ferry parties and joined full on in January 2003. Drummer Dean Thomas rounds out the rythm section, he joined us after having played with a splinter group led by guitarist, occasional guest and friend of the band Mark Gagliardi.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
BCO plays mainly private parties and community events.
Your musical influences
We play a wide variety of covers, including Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Smokey Robinson, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. But that's just scratching the surface.
