Bobby Enriquez

Bobby Enriquez
Background information
Born
Roberto Delprado Yulo Enriquez

(1943-05-20)May 20, 1943
Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Commonwealth of the Philippines
DiedAugust 6, 1996(1996-08-06) (aged 53)
Stayton, Oregon, Oregon, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active1957–1993
LabelGNP Crescendo

Roberto Delprado Yulo "Bobby" Enriquez (May 20, 1943 – August 6, 1996) was a Filipino jazz pianist. He was called "the Wildman" due to his energetic playing style.

Life

Born in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Enriquez's first love was the piano, and he was self-taught since he was four years old; however, his mother wanted him to concentrate on schoolwork. He began his professional career as a musician at the age of 14,[1] sneaking out of his second floor bedroom window at night to play gigs. When his mother discovered what he was doing, she shut down the piano and told him to concentrate on homework.

He soon ran away from home and went to Manila. In Manila, he joined jazz groups, and from there, he played in Taipei and Hong Kong where he met Mel Tormé, Lionel Hampton, Tito Puente, and Chico Hamilton. He got a job at the Golden Dragon Lounge in Honolulu, Hawaii. There, he became music director for Don Ho.[1] From 1976 to 1977, he performed with Amapola Cabase in San Francisco, California. This was followed by appearances at the Wagon Wheel and Harrah's Hotel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

From 1980 to 1981, he was a sideman for Richie Cole on tour. During the next four years, he made several albums for GNP Crescendo.[1]

Enriquez became a born-again Christian in 1993 and spoke of how God had changed his life. He played jazzy hymns at his church in Bayonne, New Jersey.[2]

He died on August 6, 1996, aged 53, in Stayton, Oregon, due to a pulmonary embolism.[2]

Discography

As leader

Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1981 The Wild Man GNP Crescendo with Abraham Laboriel (bass guitar), Alex Acuña (drums), Poncho Sanchez (conga), Chuck Domanico (bass), Harvey Mason (drums)
1981 The Wild Man Meets the Madman GNP Crescendo with Richie Cole
1982 Live! in Tokyo GNP Crescendo with Isoo Fukui (bass), Shinji Mori (drums)
1982 Bobby Enriquez Plays Bossa Nova GNP Crescendo with Rufus Reid (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)
1982 España GNP Crescendo with orchestra
1983 Live at Concerts by the Sea GNP Crescendo with Richard Reid (bass), Alex Acuña (drums)
1984 Live at Concerts by the Sea, Vol. II GNP Crescendo with Richard Reid (bass), Alex Acuña (drums)
1985 Native Portrait
1987 Wild Piano Portrait with Eddie Gomez (bass), Al Foster (drums)
1990 The Wildman Returns Evidence[3] with Ray Brown (bass), Al Foster (drums)
1993 In The City Portrait

As sideman

With Maria Amapola Cabase

  • Sophisticated Lady (1984)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott. "Bobby Enriquez". AllMusic. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Obituary – Bobby Enriquez". SFGate. August 10, 1996. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  3. ↑ Reich, Howard (January 16, 1994). "Bobby Enriquez: The Wildman Returns". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
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