Bob Snyder

Bob Snyder (August 11, 1936 – August 28, 2019) was an American musician known for playing tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, and flute. He performed with The Airmen of Note, the Glenn Miller Air Force Dance Band, and Lionel Hampton. He also served as staff musician for Motown Records, Stax Records, and WJR radio. He made a very popular clarinet recording of the song "Amazing Grace" at the Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island) on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Dick Johnson, when in charge of the Artie Shaw Orchestra, said Snyder was the best musician playing at the time.

Early life Bob Snyder was born in Danville, Indiana on August 11, 1936. Snyder graduated from Danville High School in 1954 and spent a semester at Butler University.

Snyder spent eight years in the Marine Reserves, where he played with the band, and with Glenn Miller's Air Force Dance Band. As a studio musician he played with Branford Marsalis, Diana Ross, The Temptations, After retiring from that job, he began touring the United States, mostly performing in churches. He also said Snyder "moves easily from New Orleans jazz standards to Artie Shaw classics, from Christmas carols to spirituals, all without missing a beat or finding anything strange about the varied repertoire." Eddie Hubbard played the record on his Stardust radio network program, distributed by ABC Radio Networks.

As of 2000, 1500 radio stations, including gospel and jazz, were playing the record regularly. As of June 2004, the recording had sold one million copies.

Post-retirement As of 2011, Snyder lived in Graceville, Florida with his wife Jan. He reportedly played with the Baptist College of Florida Jazz Band and served as assistant band director at Holmes County High School. He also performed with a group of students from Graceville, Marianna, and many other cities called The Piano Road Band.

Snyder became Honorary Mayor of San Antonio, Texas when he visited and performed for injured military troops.

Snyder was also named to Danville High School's Alumni Hall of Fame. The first Bob and Jan Snyder Achievement Award, for a clarinet or saxophone player, was given June 14, 2008.

Snyder died on August 28, 2019.