Bob Seeley
Robert Seeley (September 13, 1928 – October 15, 2024) was an American boogie woogie pianist.
Biography
[edit]Seeley was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 13. 1928.[1] He played piano at Charlie's Crab in Troy, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit, for over three decades.[2] Seeley played Carnegie Hall several times, and major venues throughout Europe. He released five albums, before compiling a sixth with Bob Baldori.[3]
His greatest influence was Meade Lux Lewis.[4] Seeley first met Lewis during a Detroit gig in the late 1940s,[5] and a longstanding friendship through the 1950s and 1960s developed, which influenced Seeley's piano styling. Seeley also played piano with Art Tatum. Eubie Blake was also among Seeley's circle of friends.[6]
Seeley worked for a while as accompanist to Sippie Wallace.[7] Seeley was an all-around pianist whose interest and repertoire span ragtime, stride, blues and boogie woogie.
Seeley also participated in the so-called "Cheek to Cheek Boogie" with Mark Braun.[8] He performed annually at The Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Piano Festival, in Bloomington, Indiana, from 2016 through 2018.Shakalis, Connie (October 13, 2025). "Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival returns for kids adults". The Bloomington Herald-Times Online. Bloomington, IN, USA: The Bloomington Herald-Times. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
Peter Silvester wrote: "His solos are notable for their coherence and logical progression, which propels them to a satisfying climax. Of all the contemporary pianists, Seeley reproduces the sound and spirit of Meade Lux Lewis with the most conviction and sometimes even surpasses the master".[9]
Seeley lived with his mother until about age 55 and had a brother named James. He died on October 15, 2024, at the age of 96.[10]
References
[edit]- ↑ de Heer, Dik. "BOB SEELEY". BlackCat Rockabilly Europe. Netherlands. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ Cavalieri, Nate (June 11, 2025). "Boogie knight". Detroit Metro Times. Detroit, MI, USA. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Bob Seeley". MEGAWAVE Music. Ann Arbor, MI, USA. February 25, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Bob Seeley | WWOZ New Orleans 90.7 FM". WWOZ New Orleans 90.7 FM. New Orleans, LA, USA. 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ Catala, Paul (September 27, 2018). "Boogie-woogie comes to Lakeland". The Ledger. Lakeland, FL, USA. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Bob Seeley". MEGAWAVE Music. Ann Arbor, MI, USA. February 25, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ de Heer, Dik. "BOB SEELEY". BlackCat Rockabilly Europe. Netherlands. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ Catala, Paul (September 27, 2018). "Boogie-woogie comes to Lakeland". The Ledger. Lakeland, FL, USA. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ Silvester, Peter J. (2009). The Story of Boogie-Woogie - A Left Hand Like God (2nd ed.). Maryland, US: The Scarecrow Press. pp. 247–248. ISBN 9780810869240.
- ↑ "Robert Seeley (1928–2024)". Much Loved. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
Sources
[edit]- The Story of Boogie-Woogie - A Left Hand Like God, Silvester, Peter J., The Scarecrow Press, 2009, Maryland (USA), 2nd edition, ISBN 9780810869240
External links
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