Bobby Enriquez

Summary

Roberto Delprado Yulo "Bobby" Enriquez (May 20, 1943 – August 6, 1996) was a jazz pianist from the Philippines. He was called "the Wildman" due to his energetic playing style.

Bobby Enriquez
Background information
Birth nameRoberto Delprado Yulo Enriquez
Born(1943-05-20)May 20, 1943
Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Commonwealth of the Philippines
DiedAugust 6, 1996(1996-08-06) (aged 53)
Stayton, Oregon, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1957–1993
LabelsGNP Crescendo

Life edit

Born in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, his first love was the piano (he is self-taught since he was 4 years old) but his mother wanted him to concentrate on schoolwork. He started his professional career as a musician at the age of 14,[1] sneaking out of his second floor bedroom window at night to play gigs. When his mother discovered what he was doing, she shut down the piano and told him to concentrate on homework.

He ran away from home and went to Manila. In Manila he joined jazz groups, and from there he played in Taipei and Hong Kong where he met Mel Tormé, Lionel Hampton, Tito Puente, and Chico Hamilton. He got a job at the Golden Dragon Lounge in Honolulu. In Hawaii he became music director for Don Ho.[1] From 1976 to 1977 he performed with Amapola Cabase in San Francisco, California. This was followed by appearances at the Wagon Wheel and Harrah's Hotel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

From 1980 to 1981, he was a sideman for Richie Cole on tour. During the next four years he made several albums for GNP Crescendo.[1]

Enriquez became a born-again Christian in 1993 and spoke of how God had changed his life. He played jazzy hymns at his church in Bayonne, New Jersey. He died at age 53 due to pulmonary embolism on August 6, 1996, in Stayton, Oregon.[2]

Discography edit

As leader edit

Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1981 The Wild Man GNP Crescendo with Abraham Laboriel (bass guitar), Alex Acuña (drums), Poncho Sanchez (conga), Chuck Domanico (bass), Harvey Mason (drums)
1981 The Wild Man Meets the Madman GNP Crescendo with Richie Cole
1982 Live! in Tokyo GNP Crescendo with Isoo Fukui [de] (bass), Shinji Mori [de] (drums)
1982 Bobby Enriquez Plays Bossa Nova GNP Crescendo with Rufus Reid (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)
1982 España GNP Crescendo with orchestra
1983 Live at Concerts by the Sea GNP Crescendo with Richard Reid (bass), Alex Acuña (drums)
1984 Live at Concerts by the Sea, Vol. II GNP Crescendo with Richard Reid (bass), Alex Acuña (drums)
1987 Wild Piano Portrait with Eddie Gomez (bass), Al Foster (drums)
1993 The Wildman Returns Evidence[3] with Ray Brown (bass), Al Foster (drums)

As sideman edit

With Maria Amapola Cabase

  • Sophisticated Lady

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott. "Bobby Enriquez". AllMusic. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  2. ^ "Obituary – Bobby Enriquez". SFGate. August 10, 1996. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  3. ^ Reich, Howard (January 16, 1994). "Bobby Enriquez: The Wildman Returns". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved September 7, 2018.