Bobby Comstock Memorial in Ithaca
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Bobby Comstock (1941- 2020) was an Ithaca native and an American original.
This campaign is to raise funds to place a permanent memorial to the life and career of Bobby Comstock in his hometown of Ithaca, NY. It is being organized by a group of friends and musicians who remember Bob as a consummate musician, a supportive bandleader, and a caring and loyal friend and mentor. We feel that a man of such enormous influence truly deserves a monument that will acknowledge a lifetime of achievement and broadcast the kindness of his character. We want to create a place for reflection, warmth, and richly deserved recognition for one of Ithaca’s shining stars.
Bobby was a talented singer, guitarist, and bandleader who enjoyed a successful career over five decades. His influence over scores of musicians is legendary. In the biography Shakey, Neil Young tells of listening to Bobby on his transistor radio at the age of 10. The Beatles played two of Bobby’s songs—“Jambalaya” and “Let’s Stomp”—in their early performances in Hamburg, Germany. Area musicians looked up to Bobby as a level of professionalism they had to meet if they wanted to be successful. Modest to a fault, Bob was a man with monumental influence in every aspect of the local music scene who treated everyone the same, from beginners to pals with whom he shared the stage. He was humble, friendly, and above all, supportive.
Bobby was a pioneer in the early days of rock and roll. He achieved national chart success in the late 1950s with his version of “The Tennessee Waltz” and in the early ’60s with “I Want to do It” and “Let’s Stomp”. Teen fanzines featured articles claiming "Handsome Bobby will probably be rated as the most important teenage find of the year" (Hit Song Magazine, 1960). Tennessee Waltz was named "Sleeper of the Week" on Alan Freed's Dance party show and he appeared for 6 consecutive days on Freed’s TV show, culminating in a 10-day performance at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater for Freed's gigantic Labor Day stage show.
This was followed by multiple appearances with his band on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, Shindig (with Chubby Checker), and Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert. There were tours across the United States, Canada, and Europe with the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars. He served as band leader and musical director for Richard Nadar’s Rock and Roll Revival shows for 20 years—culminating in Martin Scorcese’s major motion picture “Let the Good Times Roll”.
Over his career, he played Madison Square garden nearly 100 times and performed with Chuck Berry in over 200 shows. The acts he played with are a Who’s Who of rock’s greatest —including Jackie Wilson, BB King, Bill Haley and the Comets, Neil Diamond, Gene Pitney, Dion, Little Richard, the Drifters, the Coasters, the Shirelles, Bobby Vinton, Gary US Bonds, and many more. His band opened national tours for the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and the Dave Clark Five. During his career, Bob recorded 24 singles and one album and performed as a studio musician and back-up singer for multiple national artists including the Angels’ “My Boyfriend’s Back” and the Strangeloves’ “I Want Candy”.
He led bands that always incorporated the best talent from Central New York in Bobby and the Counts and the Comstock Limited. A member of The Syracuse Area Music Hall of Fame, Bobby was a mentor, an inspiration, and a friend to everyone who knew him. He will be remembered not only for his talent and contribution to music but most of all for being a ‘good guy’ who always knew who he was and where he came from.
This campaign is to raise funds to place a permanent memorial to the life and career of Bobby Comstock in his hometown of Ithaca, NY. It is being organized by a group of friends and musicians who remember Bob as a consummate musician, a supportive bandleader, and a caring and loyal friend and mentor. We feel that a man of such enormous influence truly deserves a monument that will acknowledge a lifetime of achievement and broadcast the kindness of his character. We want to create a place for reflection, warmth, and richly deserved recognition for one of Ithaca’s shining stars.
Bobby was a talented singer, guitarist, and bandleader who enjoyed a successful career over five decades. His influence over scores of musicians is legendary. In the biography Shakey, Neil Young tells of listening to Bobby on his transistor radio at the age of 10. The Beatles played two of Bobby’s songs—“Jambalaya” and “Let’s Stomp”—in their early performances in Hamburg, Germany. Area musicians looked up to Bobby as a level of professionalism they had to meet if they wanted to be successful. Modest to a fault, Bob was a man with monumental influence in every aspect of the local music scene who treated everyone the same, from beginners to pals with whom he shared the stage. He was humble, friendly, and above all, supportive.
Bobby was a pioneer in the early days of rock and roll. He achieved national chart success in the late 1950s with his version of “The Tennessee Waltz” and in the early ’60s with “I Want to do It” and “Let’s Stomp”. Teen fanzines featured articles claiming "Handsome Bobby will probably be rated as the most important teenage find of the year" (Hit Song Magazine, 1960). Tennessee Waltz was named "Sleeper of the Week" on Alan Freed's Dance party show and he appeared for 6 consecutive days on Freed’s TV show, culminating in a 10-day performance at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater for Freed's gigantic Labor Day stage show.
This was followed by multiple appearances with his band on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, Shindig (with Chubby Checker), and Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert. There were tours across the United States, Canada, and Europe with the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars. He served as band leader and musical director for Richard Nadar’s Rock and Roll Revival shows for 20 years—culminating in Martin Scorcese’s major motion picture “Let the Good Times Roll”.
Over his career, he played Madison Square garden nearly 100 times and performed with Chuck Berry in over 200 shows. The acts he played with are a Who’s Who of rock’s greatest —including Jackie Wilson, BB King, Bill Haley and the Comets, Neil Diamond, Gene Pitney, Dion, Little Richard, the Drifters, the Coasters, the Shirelles, Bobby Vinton, Gary US Bonds, and many more. His band opened national tours for the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and the Dave Clark Five. During his career, Bob recorded 24 singles and one album and performed as a studio musician and back-up singer for multiple national artists including the Angels’ “My Boyfriend’s Back” and the Strangeloves’ “I Want Candy”.
He led bands that always incorporated the best talent from Central New York in Bobby and the Counts and the Comstock Limited. A member of The Syracuse Area Music Hall of Fame, Bobby was a mentor, an inspiration, and a friend to everyone who knew him. He will be remembered not only for his talent and contribution to music but most of all for being a ‘good guy’ who always knew who he was and where he came from.
Organizer
Debra Louis
Organizer
Long Beach, CA