Podcast 407: A Conversation with Bob Dorough

Bob Dorough turned 90 years old last year, but there is no indication he is slowing down. The singer-songwriter-pianist has been the bringer of tunes with a slightly warped perspective for six decades, going all the way back to his Devil May Care album in the late 50’s. Along the way, he became one of the few singers to record with Miles Davis, wrote the lyrics to the hit song “Comin’ Home Baby” and influenced a generation of children (myself included) with his Schoolhouse Rock and Multiplication Rock Saturday morning cartoons. 2014 finds Dorough is in a bit of a late career renaissance, having released the Duets CD last year, and now the new CD Eulalia, a fine showcase for his singing, writing and arranging. The CD mixes in remakes of some of his oldest tunes (the title track was originally written for Sam Most in 1954) along with a few brand new winners, in particular “To Be or Not to Be Bop”, a Charlie Parker 52nd street tribute tune that fondly recalls Dorough’s early days in New York. The CD is something of a neighborhood affair as Bob’s daughter Aralee (first chair flute in the Houston Symphony) adds wining touches to a number of tunes. Bob’s neighbor Phil Woods lends his inimitable saxophone stylings to two of the album highlights “I’ve Got Just About Everything” and the gospel-infused “A Few Days of Glory”. My conversation with Bob is a discussion of both Eulalia and recordings past, including stories of how he came to work with Miles Davis and how he finally got paid for rapper samplings of Schoolhouse Rock and Multiplication Rock songs. Podcast 407 features our talk including musical selections: Bob Dorough – “To Be or Not to Be Bop”, “A Few Days of Glory” and “I’ve Got Just About Everything” from Eulalia. Bob Dorough and Heather Masse – “Love Comes on Stealthy Fingers” from Duets. Miles Davis – “Nothing Like You” from Sorcerer. Bob Dorough – “Three is a Magic Number” from Multiplication Rock.