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.
Bobby Enriquez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roberto Delprado Yulo Enriquez |
| Born | May 20, 1943 Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Commonwealth of the Philippines |
| Died | August 6, 1996 (aged 53) Stayton, Oregon, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1957–1993 |
| Labels | GNP Crescendo |
Life
editBorn in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, his first love was the piano (he is self-taught since he was 4 years old) but his mother wanted him to concentrate on schoolwork. He started 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 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. In Hawaii 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. He died at age 53 due to pulmonary embolism on August 6, 1996, in Stayton, Oregon.[2]
Discography
editAs leader
edit| 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) |
| 1987 | Wild Piano | Portrait | with Eddie Gomez (bass), Al Foster (drums) |
| 1993 | The Wildman Returns | Evidence[3] | with Ray Brown (bass), Al Foster (drums) |
As sideman
editWith Maria Amapola Cabase
- Sophisticated Lady
References
edit- ^ a b c Yanow, Scott. "Bobby Enriquez". AllMusic. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ "Obituary – Bobby Enriquez". SFGate. August 10, 1996. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ Reich, Howard (January 16, 1994). "Bobby Enriquez: The Wildman Returns". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved September 7, 2018.