Bob Chester

Bob Chester (March 20, 1908 – October 29, 1966) was an American jazz and pop music bandleader and tenor saxophonist.

He was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Chester's stepfather ran General Motors's Fisher Body Works. He began his career as a sideman under Irving Aaronson, Ben Bernie, and Ben Pollack. He formed his own group in Detroit in the mid-1930s, with a Glenn Miller-influenced sound. This band was unsuccessful in local engagements and quickly dissolved. He then put together a new band on the East Coast under the direction of Tommy Dorsey and with arrangements by David Rose. This ensemble fared much better, recording for Bluebird Records.

Chester's group, billed "The New Sensation of the Nation," had its own radio show on CBS briefly in the fall of 1939. The twenty-five-minute program aired from the Hotel Van Cleve in Dayton, Ohio late on Thursday nights (actually 12:30 am Friday morning, Eastern Time); the September 21, 1939 edition can be heard on the One Day In Radio tapes, archived by Washington D.C. station WJSV.

Chester's Bluebird records have proved excellent sellers, both for retail dealers and coin phonograph operators such as "From Maine to California"; "Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie"; "Madeliaine"; and two songs from "Banjo Eyes" - "Not a Care in the World" and "A Nickel to My Name". His only national hit was "With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair" (b/w "I Walk With Music"; Bluebird 10614), which featured Dolores O'Neill on vocals and went to No. 18 on the chart in April 1940.

Chester's orchestra included trumpeters Alec Fila, Nick Travis, Lou Mucci, and Conrad Gozzo, saxophonists Herbie Steward and Peanuts Hucko, drummer Irv Kluger, and trombonist Bill Harris. His female singers included Dolores O'Neill, Kathleen Lane, and Betty Bradley; among his male singers were Gene Howard, Peter Marshall, Bob Haymes, and Al Stuart.

The orchestra disbanded in the mid-1940s, due in part to the shrinking market for big band sound. After a stint as a disc jockey at WKMH radio, Chester assembled another band for a short time in the early 1950s, but after it failed he retired from music and returned to Detroit, to work for the rest of his life in auto manufacturing.

Bob Chester died in October 1966, at the age of 58.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 20, 1908 (Detroit), Died June 14, 1977 (Detroit)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, saxophone, vocalist, songwriter, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 132 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-060618 10-in. 2/4/1941 Dolores Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bill Darnell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone, director  
Victor BS-060619 10-in. 2/4/1941 You're dangerous Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bill Darnell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone, director  
Victor BS-060620 10-in. 2/4/1941 You lucky people, you Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bill Darnell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone, director  
Victor BS-060958 10-in. 3/4/1941 My sister and I Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bill Darnell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-060959 10-in. 3/4/1941 Slow down Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-060960 10-in. 3/4/1941 Feed the kitty Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-060961 10-in. 3/4/1941 What has happened? Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bill Darnell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, songwriter, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-063811 10-in. 4/24/1941 I'm through throwing good love after bad Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-063812 10-in. 4/24/1941 Until tomorrow Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bill Reynolds Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-063813 10-in. 4/24/1941 Time and time again Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bill Reynolds Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-063814 10-in. 4/24/1941 Clap your hands on the after beat Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble director, songwriter, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-066192 10-in. 7/8/1941 You can't get lovin' (Where there ain't any love) Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-066193 10-in. 7/8/1941 There goes that song again Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-066194 10-in. 7/8/1941 You were meant for me Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-066195 10-in. 7/8/1941 In Waikiki Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-066196 10-in. 7/8/1941 It's so peaceful in the country Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-066197 10-in. 7/8/1941 You're a natural Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067522 10-in. 8/1/1941 A new shade of blue Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067523 10-in. 8/1/1941 I can't believe that you're in love with me Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bob Haymes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067524 10-in. 8/1/1941 You betcha my life Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067525 10-in. 8/1/1941 The wind blows free Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bob Haymes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067824 10-in. 9/10/1941 Harlem confusion Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067825 10-in. 9/10/1941 The magic of magnolias Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bob Haymes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067826 10-in. 9/10/1941 B-i-bi Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley ; Bob Chester ; Bob Haymes Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal trio and vocal ensemble director, vocalist, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-067827 10-in. 9/10/1941 From Maine to California Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
(Results 76-100 of 132 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Chester, Bob," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116042.

Chester, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116042.

"Chester, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116042

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