Bob Snyder

Bob Snyder (b. Danville, Indiana -- ) – Saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist. While growing up in Danville, Snyder was involved in various school and community activities as early as age eight. Of particular note, he played in a family group called the “Hillbilly Kids,” which performed throughout Central Indiana. Following a year of studying music at Butler, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and then played with Airmen of Note, the Air Force VIP Band, and the Air Force Academy Band. After eight years of military service, he played with the Tommy Dorsey Band and then led his own group in New Orleans. Then he was a studio musician with Stax Records in Memphis and Motown Records in Detroit (starting with the latter in 1966) and played on numerous big hits. Also in the 1960s, he spent some time back in Indiana with Keetie and the Kasuals, a popular Indy-based band. From 1971 into the 1990s, he periodically toured the United States and Europe with Lionel Hampton, who called Snyder, “the best clarinet player in the world.” (He has also played with the bands of Count Basie, Ted Weems, Tex Beneke, and Bobby Crosby.) From 1984 to 1999, he served as Music Director at a resort called the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan. As a highlight of his time there, he performed a dual clarinet concert with the legendary Pete Fountain. Since then, he has continued to travel the country. In fact, he gave a concert at the Royal Theatre in his hometown of Danville in the summer of 2008. As a recording artist with Saxy Records of Graceville, Florida, he has made several solo CDs including Back Home in Indiana, which was recorded live at the Elkhart Indiana Jazz Festival in 2002. Lastly, Snyder’s clarinet version of “Amazing Grace” has received national airplay.