Bobbie Short RIP

Ed Fuqua · #1 03-22-2005, 10:23 AM

Of leukemia. Not really a jazz guy, but certainly an employer of jazz guys. My old buddy Klaus Suonsaari played drums with him, when he first got to NYC...

Alexi David · #2 03-23-2005, 06:58 AM

............never got to see him........oh well RIP

Paul Warburton · #3 03-23-2005, 08:12 AM

I think there used to be a Bobby Short type in every major city. They, of course, always play in the big hotels. They always sing and play...and as Ed says, they always hire at least a jazz bass player and sometimes a drummer.
These are usually really great gigs for bassists because you learn a helluva lotta tunes and, if you're interested, as I am (was), you can learn alotta lyrics.

My Bobby Short kinda gig was here in Denver at a lounge in a hotel called the Senate lounge. The Senate was right across the street from the State Capital building.
My 'Bobby Short' was a lady named "Effie,The Blond Tigress of the Keyboard" I started this gig the night I graduated from High School...I was 17 and it was 1959. Effie was a killer in the LOOKS department! She was a Marilyn Monroe type....tall, blond, with killer knockers, that she displayed as much as possible. She would play a few tunes on vibes and when she did, you could see the whole room part, to get a better angle to view her low cut dress, as she leaned over to play. Believe it or don't, she had a big diamond mounted in one of her front teeth!!!
At 17, I was a little young to get anything goin', if you know what I mean, with her. However, we did get this 'younger brother...older sister relationship happening which resulted in Effie telling me the facts of life on our breaks...including her drawing certain things on a cocktail napkin!
I stayed on this gig for about four years. As you can see, it was a great period in my life. I learned hundreds of tunes in all the keys, including lyrics. It taught me how to deal with people and basically was my "school of music and life"
Effie is in NYC still doing the same stuff in some big hotel...I can't remember which one.
Here's to all the Bobby Shorts of the world!!!!

Alexi David · #4 03-23-2005, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

I think there used to be a Bobby Short type in every major city. They, of course, always play in the big hotels. They always sing and play...and as Ed says, they always hire at least a jazz bass player and sometimes a drummer.
These are usually really great gigs for bassists because you learn a helluva lotta tunes and, if you're interested, as I am (was), you can learn alotta lyrics.

My Bobby Short kinda gig was here in Denver at a lounge in a hotel called the Senate lounge. The Senate was right across the street from the State Capital building.
My 'Bobby Short' was a lady named "Effie,The Blond Tigress of the Keyboard" I started this gig the night I graduated from High School...I was 17 and it was 1959. Effie was a killer in the LOOKS department! She was a Marilyn Monroe type....tall, blond, with killer knockers, that she displayed as much as possible. She would play a few tunes on vibes and when she did, you could see the whole room part, to get a better angle to view her low cut dress, as she leaned over to play. Believe it or don't, she had a big diamond mounted in one of her front teeth!!!
At 17, I was a little young to get anything goin', if you know what I mean, with her. However, we did get this 'younger brother...older sister relationship happening which resulted in Effie telling me the facts of life on our breaks...including her drawing certain things on a cocktail napkin!
I stayed on this gig for about four years. As you can see, it was a great period in my life. I learned hundreds of tunes in all the keys, including lyrics. It taught me how to deal with people and basically was my "school of music and life"
Effie is in NYC still doing the same stuff in some big hotel...I can't remember which one.
Here's to all the Bobby Shorts of the world!!!!

Amen!

I would love to have a steady gig like that, great experience and training

godoze · #5 03-23-2005, 10:09 AM

Paul, was this the beginning of your "bathroom period ?"

Paul Warburton · #6 03-23-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZ

Paul, was this the beginning of your "bathroom period ?"

I refuse to answer that question

mje · #7 03-23-2005, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

I think there used to be a Bobby Short type in every major city..

In Detroit, that was probably Joe Hunter, who held down a place at the piano in the lobby of a hotel in Detroit for decades, until Alan Slutsky brought the Funk Borthers back into notional prominance.

Pete G · #8 03-23-2005, 01:24 PM

I regret I never got to see Bobby Short live. Every time I was in New York, I was too busy doing something else I *thought* was more important. I'm glad I at least heard him on recordings and saw him on TV.

My dad went to high school with Bobby Short; unfortunately, they did not know each other well.

**Damon Rondeau** · #9 03-23-2005, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

At 17, I was a little young to get anything goin', if you know what I mean, with her.

Paul, maybe Effie reads TalkBass. You know, maybe it's not too late...

RIP to Mr. Short. It will be one of my regrets never to have seen him in person.

ee-san · #10 03-23-2005, 03:59 PM

So, in which Woody Allen movie did Bobby Short make a cameo appearance?

Marcus Johnson · #11 03-23-2005, 04:06 PM

Was it "Hannah And Her Two Sisters"? All those Woody flicks have kinda blurred together in my brain....

Paul Warburton · #12 03-23-2005, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon Rondeau

Paul, maybe Effie reads TalkBass. You know, maybe it's not too late...

That's some pretty funny *** Damon. I just had a visual imagery kind of thing on that and cracked myself up....i'm 63 and she must be 73!

Pete G · #13 03-23-2005, 04:37 PM

Scroll down to the first panel below the host, featuring "Effie Jansen."

http://www.jordanaco.com/framemusic2.html

Paul Warburton · #14 03-23-2005, 04:46 PM

Ha!! That's her Pete....Thanks! She calls me once in a while. Still looks pretty damn good eh? Alot better'n me!
Thanks again Pete!

Pete G · #15 03-23-2005, 04:48 PM

Absitively, Paul.

Marcus Johnson · #16 03-23-2005, 08:30 PM

Paul, I'm surprised, and a little offended, that you would choose to bring up Effie's "killer knockers" in this forum.

I mean, c'mon, at least post a picture

.

I wonder how many people would only remember Bobby Short as the guy who sang the "Charlie" perfume jingle back in the 70's.

Basshole · #17 03-24-2005, 12:19 AM

When speaking of Bobby here in NY on the news, they spoke of him as being a very local celeb.

Curiously, no mention was made of him being the voice of Charlie perfume for so many years. I doubt there's anyone over 20 that can't remember that commercial...

Paul Warburton · #18 03-24-2005, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Paul, I'm surprised, and a little offended, that you would choose to bring up Effie's "killer knockers" in this forum.

F.O.

ee-san · #19 03-24-2005, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Was it "Hannah And Her Two Sisters"? All those Woody flicks have kinda blurred together in my brain....

Actually, I don't know the answer. I thought it was Manhattan but I'm not sure. I believe the film was produced earlier than Hannah.

Ed Fuqua · #20 03-24-2005, 10:52 AM

It was Hannah, he's on a date with Diane Wiest. He takes her to the Carlyle after she takes him to some punk club. They have a scene in Tower Records later in the film where they talk about that date.