Bobby’s Press/Media Page
Below you’ll find Hi-Rez images, Bio and Facts for your publicity uses.
FAQ’s
Born: Los Angeles, California. Now resides in Seattle, Washington.
Recordings: Blazin’, My Kind of Jazz, and Holiday Extravaganza
Points of note: Blazin’ includes a large collection of Swing, Latin, Motown, Zydeco, R&B, Jazz and Rock n’ Roll. It has been called the “ultimate party album”.
Musical capacities: Soloist, studio musician, band leader, musical director, clinician, lecturer and composer.
Career highlights: World tours and national shows with Ray Charles, Frankie Valli, Mel Torme, The Four Tops, Temptations, Jerry Lewis, C.J. Chenier, The Coasters, The Spinners, Martha and the Vandellas, Bobby Vinton, Ann Jillian, Harry Blackstone Jr., Shari Lewis, Andy Russell, Celio Gonzalez, Rolando La Serie and many others.
Performances in numerous countries including: Sweden, Portugal, France, Holland, Argentina, Japan, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel, Denmark, Canada, Chile, Uruguay among others.
Major Cities Performed In: Paris, Rome, Bruxelles, Vienna, Istanbul, Zurich, Vancouver, Tel Aviv, Munich, Amsterdam,Tokyo, Oostende, Malmo, Copenhagen, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston, San Antonio,Portland,Chicago, San Francisco and many more.
Began playing: Accordion at age 5. Trumpet at age 11.
Education: Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance from California State University at Fullerton.
Equipment: Kanstul ZKT 1600 Bb trumpet , Kanstul Signature flugel horn, Piccolo trumpet-Selmer, Accordian-Tonaveri International Model. Meinl Timbales. Mouthpieces:Warburton 4M w/5 star backbore for Bb trumpet and Piccolo trumpet.
Record label: Founder and owner of Sound Facet Records.
Future projects: Write a trumpet method and a music business book.
Sign new artists to record label and create more theme albums.
Musical style: Jazzy with overtones of Latin, Classical and pop elements.
Call 253-931-8388 or email bobby@bobbymedina.com regarding any questions you might have.
High Res Images for Download
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PROFILE: Bobby Medina
Trumpeter Bobby Medina, having apprenticed with such luminary artists as Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Poncho Sanchez, Eddie Cano and Mel Brown among others, is presently bringing his own brand of Latin influenced jazz to audiences in America and Europe. “I’m trying to take what I’ve learned from these great performers and mix that with the music I grew up on, Latin, jazz, Motown, symphonic and a variety of great music. With this I’ve come up with a sound that crosses over and appeals to people on many levels.”
Originally from Los Angeles, Bobby Medina began developing his musical talents at the age of 5. His first instrument, the accordion, was the spark that lit the fire for his desire to study and play music. When he was eleven years old he switched to the trumpet because he wasn’t allowed to play the accordion in the school band. Since then he’s been hooked on it and has accumulated numerous awards available to a young musician. Among them, the coveted Louis Armstrong award. While attending California State University Fullerton as a music major, he performed in every conceivable type of group from Big Bands to Symphony Orchestras and at the same time he was playing studio dates for jingles and demonstration records. He was also working with Mel Torme and Poncho Sanchez, superstars in the jazz and Latin jazz fields as well as being a regular performer for Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral Orchestra.
Upon completing his Bachelors degree in trumpet performance and composition, he left California to play in a cruise ship show band working with a variety of entertainers including Harry Blackstone, Jr. and playing Broadway production shows as well as assuming the responsibilities of musical director. A move to Sweden in 1986 found him performing various duties including guest appearances with jazz groups and big bands to clinics and master classes at universities and music conservatories.
When Ray Charles set out on a 9 month world tour in 1987, Bobby became a key sideman and was the featured jazz trumpet soloist. “It was really a kick, not to mention high pressure, being taped for international television specials and radio broadcasts. When we got to Turkey I said to myself, who’s going to know who Ray Charles is out here? That first night, there were close to 60,000 people at our performance!” Other stops on the world tour included the Paris Jazz Festival (France), Ostende Rhythm and Blues Festival with B.B. King (Belgium), Jazz at the Sultans Pool (Israel), Corso Di San Remo Festival (Italy) and the JVC Jazz Festival Lincoln Center with Grover Washington Jr. (New York) among others. In April of 1988 Bobby set out on another Asian tour with Ray Charles.
It was after this that Bobby returned to California to work as a freelance player in the Los Angeles and Orange County musical arenas. There he worked with internationally known stars Bobby Vinton, Ann Jillian, Andy Russel and Latin sensations Rolando La Serie, Celio Gonzales and Eddie Cano.
In 1990 Bobby relocated to the Pacific Northwest where he has worked in a variety of settings. His duties have included stints as musical director for Portland jazz drum great Mel Brown to performing with the internationally acclaimed Zydeco master C.J. Chenier. Additionally, Bobby provided the back up band and acted as musical director for Las Vegas headliner Pete Barbutti’s Northwest tour as well as platinum recording artists Frankie Valli, Martha Reeves, The Coasters, Chubby Checker, Platters, The Spinners. Over last 15 years Bobby has worked as a regular with The Four Tops and Temptations and continues to travel, perform and contract musicians for their West Coast appearances.
Bobby spends quite a bit of time performing outside of the USA. Some countries he visits are Portugal, Spain, England, Argentina, Chile and Sweden to name a few. He performs as a featured guest soloist with various European jazz groups and big bands. His 3 cd’s have received praise from the public and critics and he is currently working on a 4th due out in late 2013.
“I’ve had the great opportunity to learn and perform with some of the worlds top artists. My goal is to create a complete escape for my audiences via a fun show, that includes them, without compromising the music.” –Bobby Medina