Bobby Plater

Robert C. Plater (May 13, 1914, Newark, New Jersey - November 20, 1982, Lake Tahoe) was an American jazz alto saxophonist.

Plater began playing alto sax at age 12, and played locally in Newark with Donald Lambert and the Savoy Dictators in the 1930s. He played with Tiny Bradshaw from 1940 to 1942 before spending 1942-45 serving in the U.S. military during World War II. After his discharge he worked briefly with Cootie Williams, then played intermittently with Lionel Hampton between 1946 and 1964. He also did arrangements with Hampton, and did some freelance work besides. In 1964 he took Frank Wess's place in the Count Basie Orchestra, where he played until his death in 1982. His only recordings as a leader were four songs for Bullet Records in 1950.

Plater was the co-composer of "Jersey Bounce", a popular dance number in the 1940s, recorded by various musicians including Glenn Miller and Ella Fitzgerald.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 13, 1914 (Newark), Died November 20, 1982

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1968

Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, flute, composer

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 103 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-063330 10-in. 4/3/1941 Jersey bounce Earl Hines Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-071919 10-in. 2/16/1942 Jersey bounce New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-073503 10-in. 3/4/1942 Jersey bounce Four King Sisters ; Rhythm Reys Female vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-074093 10-in. 2/19/1942 Jersey bounce Jan Savitt ; Top Hatters Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor MBS-092576 10-in. before 3/6/1951 Jersey bounce PĂ©rez Prado Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Decca 73287 1/21/1946 Pinetop's boogie woogie-1 Bing Crosby instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73288 1/21/1946 On the sunny side of the street-2 Bing Crosby instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73324 1/29/1946 Rockin' in rhythm, part 1 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73325 1/29/1946 Rockin' in rhythm, part 2 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73326 1/29/1946 Gay notes Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73327 1/29/1946 Tempo's birthday Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73332 1/31/1946 Cobb's idea Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73333 1/31/1946 Air mail special, part 1 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73334 1/31/1946 Air Mail special, part 2 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74730 1/28/1949 Hamp's boogie woogie No.2 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74731 1/28/1949 Hamp's gumbo Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74732 1/28/1949 Beulah's sister's boogie Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74733 1/28/1949 Wee Albert Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74853 4/26/1949 What's happening baby? Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74854 4/26/1949 Drinking wine spo-dee-o-dee Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74897 5/10/1949 The hucklebuck Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74898 5/10/1949 Baby, you're great Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 75636 12/29/1949 Rag mop Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 75637 12/29/1949 For you my love Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 75638 12/29/1949 Sky blue Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
(Results 1-25 of 103 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Plater, Bobby," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100152.

Plater, Bobby. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100152.

"Plater, Bobby." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100152

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