Howard Roberts (October 2, 1929 – June 28, 1992) was an American jazz guitarist, educator and session musician.^[1]

Biography [link]

Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and began playing guitar at age 8. By the time he was 15 he was playing professionally locally.

In 1950 he moved to Los Angeles. There, with the assistance of Jack Marshall, he began playing with musicians including Bobby Troup, Chico Hamilton and Barney Kessel. In about 1956, Bobby Troup signed him to Verve Records as a solo artist. Around that time he decided to concentrate on recording, both as a solo artist and session musician, a direction he would continue until the early 1970s.

Roberts played rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass and mandolin, both in the studio and for television and movie projects, including lead guitar in the theme from The Twilight Zone, guitar on the theme from The Munsters and rhythm guitar on the theme from I Dream of Jeannie.

Artists Roberts backed included Georgie Auld, Peggy Lee (Fever), Eddie Cochran (Sittin In The Balcony), Bobby Day (Rockin Robin), Jody Reynolds (Endless Sleep), Shelley Fabares (Johnny Angel), Dean Martin (Houston), The Monkees, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, and The Electric Prunes.

In 1963, Roberts recorded Color Him Funky and H.R. Is A Dirty Guitar Player, his first two albums after signing with Capitol. Produced by Jack Marshall, they both feature the same quartet of with Roberts (guitar), Chuck Berghofer (bass), Earl Palmer (drums) and Paul Bryant alternating with Burkley Kendrix on organ. Both albums were released on a single CD under the title Dirty & Funky on Randy Bachman's label Guitarchives in 1998.^[2] In all he recorded nine albums with Capitol before signing with ABC Records/Impulse! Records.

From the late 1960s, Roberts began to focus on teaching rather than recording. He traveled around the country giving guitar seminars, and wrote several instructional books. For some years he also wrote an acclaimed column "Jazz Improvisation" for Guitar Player magazine. To support his teaching activities, he founded the Guitar Institute of Technology, and Playback Publishing.

Roberts died of prostate cancer in Seattle, WA on June 28, 1992. His wife Patty, also active in musical education and curriculum development, continued in this field after his death.

He founded Roberts Music Institute in Seattle, WA, which is currently owned by his son, Jay Roberts.

Discography [link]

This section requires expansion.

As leader [link]

• The Movin' Man (1956) Verve VSP-29
• Good Pickin's (1959)
• Color Him Funky (1963) Capitol ST-1887
• H.R. is a Dirty Guitar Player (1963) Capitol ST-1961
• Something's Cookin' (1965) Capitol ST-2214
• Goodies (1965) Capitol ST-2400
• Whatever's Fair (1966) Capitol ST-2478
• All-Time Great Instrumental Hits (1967) Capitol ST-2609
• Jaunty-Jolly (1967) Capitol ST-2716
• Guilty! (1967) Capitol ST-2824
• Out of Sight (But "In" Sound) (1968) Capitol ST-2901
• Spinning Wheel (1969) Capitol ST-336
• Antelope Freeway (Impulse!, 1971)
• Equinox Express Elevator (Impulse!, 1972)
• Sounds (1974) Capitol ST-11247
• The Real Howard Roberts (1977)

As sideman [link]

This section requires expansion.

With David Axelrod

• Release of An Oath (1968) by The Electric Prunes
• Song of Innocence (1968)
• Songs of Experience (1969)

With Buddy Collette

• Jazz Loves Paris (1958)

With Milt Jackson

• Memphis Jackson (Impulse!, 1969)

With John Klemmer

• Constant Throb (Impulse!, 1971)

With Lalo Schifrin

• Gone with the Wave (Colpix, 1964)
• Cool Hand Luke (soundtrack) (Dot, 1967)
• There's a Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin' On (Dot, 1968)
• More Mission: Impossible (Paramount, 1968)
• Mannix (Paramount, 1968)
• Bullitt (soundtrack) (Warner Bros., 1968)
• Kelly's Heroes (soundtrack) (MGM, 1970)
• Rock Requiem (Verve, 1971)

With Gábor Szabó

• Wind, Sky and Diamonds (Impulse!, 1967)

References [link]

• The Jazz Guitar Stylings Of Howard Roberts By Mitch Holder (Mel Bay Publications)

External links [link]

• Albums with Howard Roberts as a Leader accessed January 12, 2012
• Howard Roberts Obituary].
• Howard Roberts at Allmusic
• Biography.
• Howard Roberts Fusion III guitar by Gibson.
• History of the Guitar Institute of Technology and the Musicians Institute.
• CD Universe has some more discography including personnel.