Bobby Kimmel | |
|---|---|
 Bobby Kimmel | |
| Background information | |
| Born | September 1, 1940 United States |
| Genres | Folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, guitarist |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, double bass |
| Years active | 1962 – present |
| Labels | Capitol Records, Takoma Records, GemsTone (distributed by mondayMEDIA) |
Bobby Kimmel (born September 1, 1940) is an American musician and songwriter who currently performs with the acoustic folk group I Hear Voices. He has been recording and performing in concert for over 50 years and was a founding member of the Stone Poneys, along with Linda Ronstadt and the late Kenny Edwards.[1][2][3]
Bobby Kimmel moved to Tucson as a child for his asthmatic condition.[4] His father was a studio musician in New York City, and become the principal double bass player in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He also owned and operated a retail music shop near the university.
Kimmel's early musical influence was jazz, especially "West Coast" jazz. He also listened to the "harder" East Coast jazz. His passion for jazz continued all throughout his high school years, and it was not until he discovered the guitar (at age 17) that his musical direction changed.[5]
He became aware of the folk and blues musicians such as Doc Watson, Lightnin Hopkins, Merle Travis, and Mississippi John Hurt, as well as contemporaries like Dick Rosmini, Steve Mann and Ry Cooder. Phonorecords from his father's music store at this time contributed invaluably to his musical education.[citation needed]
At that point, Kimmel fully turned his attention toward folk music. He began playing both bass and guitar in the folk music clubs around Tucson in the early 1960s. He started performing with his friend Linda Ronstadt. During that period he played bass in a folk group with Linda and her older brother and sister Peter and Suzie.[6]
- ^ Biography from allmusic.com
- ^ Sanity on the Line Every Show Hit Parader, February 1971
- ^ Biography of Bobby Kimmel on BK Special Website Archived March 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ History of Stone Poneys Archived March 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Early influences Archived March 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ History of Band in Artistopia Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine