Biography
Bobby Caldwell, born Robert Hunter Caldwell on August 15, 1951, in New York City to show business parents Bob and Carolyn Caldwell who hosted the TV variety show Suppertime, grew up immersed in music across Memphis and Miami. He taught himself piano and guitar as a preteen, formed his own rock-oriented band Katmandu at 17, performed Jimi Hendrix and Cream covers, and later recorded an album with them. After working as a rhythm guitarist for Little Richard in the early 1970s and spending years in Los Angeles bar bands, he signed with Miami's TK Records in 1978, releasing his double-platinum self-titled debut featuring the signature hit 'What You Won't Do for Love,' which TK marketed by concealing his white identity for R&B airplay.
Fun Facts
- TK Records hid Caldwell's white identity on his debut album cover and ads by showing him only in silhouette to secure R&B radio play, a secret revealed during live tours.
- He achieved legendary cult status in Japan, with albums like Heart of Mine reaching double platinum and August Moon going gold there.
- Caldwell portrayed Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas Rat Pack tributes and recorded big band standards in the same Capitol Studios used by Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Bobby Darin.
- His hit 'What You Won't Do for Love' was written in just two days after label executives demanded a hit for his debut album.
Associated Acts
- Cool Uncle
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Little Richard - early career break as rhythm guitarist (touring and performances) [early 1970s]
Key Collaborators
- Deniece Williams - duet vocalist ('Where is the Love' on Perfect Island Nights)
- Jack Splash - record producer (Cool Uncle album)
- Katmandu band - band member, multi-instrumentalist and singer (Kathmandu album) [late 1960s]
Artists Influenced
- Tupac Shakur - sampled his music ('What You Won't Do for Love' sample) [1990s]
- The Notorious B.I.G. - sampled his music ('What You Won't Do for Love' sample) [1990s]
- Common - sampled his music ('What You Won't Do for Love' sample) [1990s]
- Chicago - wrote hits for them (songwriting contributions) [various]
- Boz Scaggs - wrote hits for them (songwriting contributions) [various]
External Links
Tags: #aor, #easy-listening, #jazz-funk
References
Heard on WWOZ
Bobby Caldwell has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.