Our Love IsHere To Stay

Feelin' Groovy

One For My Baby

Greatest Hits

Up To The Moon

JFab on "Good Morning Monterey" with Rose Marie, performing Nat King Cole songs and other silliness at an unreasonably early hour.

KSCO 2-28-12 Johnny Fabulous interveiw

Johnny Fabulous performs "Stardust"....Voice and hands

Stardust

Johnny Fabulous performs the Cole Porter classic with nothing but a piano and a Microphone.

Inner Lounge

I Get A Kick Out Of You

Johnny Fabulous puts his thumbprint on the Simon and Garfunkel classic.

Feelin' Groovy Inner Lounge 2

El Condor Pasa

Bobby Bland….
Before anyone else, before any other blues singer, I first became aware of Bobby Blue Bland. I had heard the blues and I’m sure I had heard B.B King and others, but really, Bobby Bland was my first thrill in the blues. I remember my friends Dennis & Judy Long playing Bobby’s version of “Stormy Monday” for me at their home all those many years ago. I’ve been singing that song ever since. I loved the voice and I loved the sophisticated arrangements with all the horns and strings. He rightly has been credited with bringing a new sound to the blues. Often Bobby’s sound was referred to as “City Blues” or “Slick Blues”. No matter to me, I just knew I liked it.
 I saw Bobby Bland perform three times. The first was in Oakland in the late nineties, he was opening for B.B. King. He sang well but looked miserable and didn’t say a word to the audience, other than “Thank You”. Either he was not feeling well or he had gone big the night before. Regardless, I was thrilled to see him and the band was truly inspiring.
The second time was in Fresno. To say, “I opened for Bobby Bland” would be a stretch. I played in the Lobby of the beautiful Tower Theatre as people came in for the show. It was a thrill. The concert was not promoted well and it could be the folks in Fresno didn’t really know who he was; consequently the concert had poor attendance. Bobby was in good voice and good mood. There were two girls behind me singing along very loud and to me, were kind of obnoxious. Although I was a little irritated by it, I watched Bobby sing through it as best he could like an old pro. They were relentless.  Finally, very graciously, he brought the girls on stage and had them sing with him. It was such a classy move and I’m sure those two young ladies will never forget that night.
The third time was at the Santa Cruz Blues festival. He sang with fire and was hilarious. I remember him flirting with some cute girl and saying, “Hey baby, are you married”? He put on a great show.
When I heard the news of his passing, it struck my heart. Bobby Bland truly touched my life. Bobby’s version of the song, “Blues in the night” is my favorite. The track I’ve posted is from a “Johnny Fabulous Orkestrio” Tuesday night at Severinos.  (The delightful David Tucker on drums and Bill Bosch on Bass.) Our arrangement was clearly inspired by the one and only Bobby Blue Bland. Cheers to you Bobby…


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