Biography Page
Photo taken by Joanne Nathan in
front of Terra Blues
From left to right – Steve Holly,
Bobby Nathan, Danny Lewis and David Santos
In 1993 Bobby formed the Bobby Nathan Blues Band
a nine piece band playing sizzling Texas rock
and blues in the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn but
with a horn section.
He recorded his First Album “I’m Ready” during
a major snow storm in New York.
The band features the following musicians: Glen
Wyka o on drums (Tommy James) ,
Rusty Clloud on piano (Southside Johnny and the
Asbury Jukes), Jan Mulaney on Hammond B-3 organ ,
Arno Hecht – Tenor Sax , Larry Etkin – Trumpet,
Crispin Cioe – Alto, Bob Funk – Trombone
of the Uptown Horns (Rolling Stones World Tour),
Baraon Raymonde on Alto too!,
Bob Cleary on bass guitar (Memphis Soul Review).
Special guests inclued – Kenny Aaronson on Lap
Steel,
Rob Papparosi on Harp, and Frank Gravis on Bass.
And of couse, Bobby Nathan on guitar and vocals.
Bobby continueds to play around the New York City
Area
and always has NYC’s top players in his band.
Bobby Nathan, native New Yorker began playing
Guitar in 1959.
His early bands played at School, Temple and
Church dances.
What do expect, Bobby was age 11. All through
High School this continued.
In 1965 Bobby played his first entire Summer
at Cartret Club
next door to the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ
with his band The “Pipers”.
All through the seventies, Bobby toured the States
with “Strawberry”
playing Top 40 at club up and down the eastern
seacoast.
Strawberry was very popular on the Jersey shore
especially The Kernels Garter, The Playpen, The Headliner,
The Bamboo Bar. Strawberry worked through Norby
Walters Agency and backed up The Angels,
The Chiffons, The Crystals, Dion and the Belmonts
and many others.
The band became the house band at New York’s
Max’s Kansas City in 1974.
In 1976 Bobby formed the band Uptown and played
all the disco clubs including
The 2001 disco club during the Saturday Night
Disco Fever days.
Unique became the house band at New York’s Disco
Sally’s club at 55th and Seventh Avenue.
His group “Unique” continued to back known disco
artists such as
Gloria Gaynor, Carol Douglas, and Musique.
In 1979 Bobby and his partner/wife Joanne opened
Unique Recording Studios in New York City.
Immediately hit records were pouring out of the
studio which set the trend for the sounds of the 80’s.
Hip hop music was invented and created at Unique
Recording Studios.
Artists such as Soul Sonic Force, Planet Patrol,
New Edition, Omd, Pet Shop Boys,
The System, Shannon, Southside Johnny and the
Asbury Jukes, James Brown,
Joe Cocker, Dianna Ross, LaToya Jackson, Engelburt
Humperdinck.
In 1983, Bobby opened the worlds first midi recording
studio known as Midi City.
This set the trend for all music recorded today.
Bobby worked as a consultant for Yamaha for the
entire DX synthesizer line including the DX-7.
Bobby was the first to promote sampling and worked
building sound libraries
for Emu Systems Emulator and Emulator II.
Bobby was the first to sample James Brown’s screams
and Led Zeppelin’s drums into a sample.
Bobby was also a columnist for Keyboard Magazine,
Mix Magazine
and Record Engineer and Producer Magazine
and his articles on Midi are still being published
today in book form.
As the Midi reputation grew so did the clientele
that came to Unique.
Bobby has had the pleasure to work with the following
artists at Unique
and his name can be found on most album credits:
Steve Winwood, Michael McDonald,
Joe Cocker, Run DMC, LL Kool J, Anita Baker,
Madonna, Bel Biv Devoe, Stevie Nicks,
New Kids on the Blocks, Mariah Carey, C &
C Music Factory, David Sanborn,
Paul Schaeffer, Billly Crystal, Victoria Jackson,
Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven, Melba Moore,
Freddie Jackson, Janet Jackson, Blondie, Debbie
Harrie, Joe Public, Billy Ocean,
Donna Summer, Shenna Easton, James Ingram, Michael
Bolton, Don Johnson,
The Rolling Stones, Peter Bagriel, Patrick Moraz,
Billy Idol, David Bowie, Tina Turner,
Ice Tea, Ice Cube, Naughty By Nature, Queen Latifah,
Shabba Ranks, Queen, Arrowsmith,
Motley Crew, Heavy D & The Boyz, Duran Duran,
Kiss, Prince,
Depeche Mode, Living Colour and the list goes
on and on.
In 1990 Bobby formed a group called Total Recall
a nine piece group
made up of many of the studio musicians who have
recorded at the studio
and began playing clubs in the New York City
area.
In 1991 Bobby formed The Memphis Soul Review
a group that recreated the sound of last 60’s
early 70’s R & B music featuring songs of
Aretha, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Isley
Brothers, and others.
The band hosted the pro jam at the China Club
and has backed up the following artists: Steve
Winwood, Chaka Khan, John Waite,
Slash, Gregg Alllman, 10,000 Maniacs, Darlene
Love, Tower of Power, Bruce Willis,
Rick James, Vanilla Fudge, Cher, Bon Jovi, Richie
Sambora, Paul Schaeffer, Billy Preston,
Jr. Walker, Snow, Black Sabbath and others.
This bank is still active in playing clubs in
the New York area such as LeBarBat,
Manny’s Car Wash, Lone Star Roadhouse.
And in the Hamptons at Stephen’s Talkhouse, The
China Club, C.P.I. and Summers.