Bob Florence

Bob Florence (May 20, 1932 – May 15, 2008) He joined the college big band, and his classmates included Herb Geller and Tommy Tedesco.

Florence spent most of his career with big bands, as a leader, performer, composer, and arranger. After graduating from college, he was a member of bands led by Les Brown, Louis Bellson, and Harry James. His arrangement of "(Up A) Lazy River" for Si Zentner was a hit in 1960, Dave Pell hired him to work full-time as an arranger for Liberty Records. The job gave him the opportunity to write in several genres: bossa nova with Sérgio Mendes, jazz with Bud Shank, and pop vocal with Vic Dana.

He worked often in Hollywood as a bandleader, composer, and arranger for TV variety shows, hosted by Dean Martin, Red Skelton, and Andy Williams, and he wrote arrangements for the Tonight Show band led by Doc Severinsen. He won an Emmy Award for a program by Linda Lavin (1981) and another for a concert by Julie Andrews (1990). The Solid Gold Trumpet of Harry James (MGM E/SE-4058, 1962) With Lainie Kazan on the songs "Sunny", "An Angel Died", "How Can I Be Sure", and "Flower Child", from the album Love Is Lainie (MGM SE-4496, 1968) With Sérgio Mendes The Great Arrival (Atlantic, 1966) With Joe Pass A Sign of the Times (World Pacific, 1965) With Bud Shank California Dreamin' (World Pacific, 1966) Michelle (World Pacific, 1966) Bud Shank & the Sax Section (Pacific Jazz, 1966) Bud Shank Plays Music from Today's Movies (World Pacific, 1967) With Si Zentner Up A Lazy River (Liberty 1961) Mr. Nashville (RCA Victor 1966)

As sideman With Julie Andrews Love Julie (USA Music Group, 1987) With Sue Raney Sings the Music of Johnny Mandel (Discovery, 1982) Ridin' High (Discovery, 1984) Flight of Fancy: A Journey of Alan & Marilyn Bergman (Discovery, 1986) With Brian Swartz Quartet Live at the Jazz Bakery (Summit, 2005) With Bud Shank Girl in Love (World Pacific, 1966) Taking the Long Way Home (Jazzed Media, 2006) With Joanie Sommers Dream (Discovery, 1980 [rel. 1983]) Here, There and Everywhere! (Absord [Japan], 2000 [rel. 2004])