Royce Campbell

Royce Campbell (born June 7, 1952) is a jazz guitarist from Indiana who was a member of the Henry Mancini orchestra for twenty years.

Musical career He was born in North Vernon, Indiana. When he was five, his mother married a career Navy man, and Campbell grew up in cities throughout the U.S. and the world. Exposure to a variety of genres contributed to his musical style. A love for rock and roll marked his first connection with the guitar, at the age of nine, when he discovered Chuck Berry. Like many guitarists of his generation, he was influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.

By the time he finished high school in Spain in the early 1970s, he had decided to pursue a career in music. His uncle, pianist Carroll DeCamp, who had done arrangements for Stan Kenton and Les Elgart, invited him to Indianapolis to live and study. His uncle provided his education in music theory and composition.

During the 1990s, Campbell recorded more as a leader. In 1993, he produced Project G-5: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery which also featured guitarists Tal Farlow, Jimmy Raney, Herb Ellis, and fellow Hoosier Cal Collins. His 1994 album 6x6 featured guitarists Pat Martino, John Abercrombie, Larry Coryell, Dave Stryker, and Bucky Pizzarelli. On Project G-5: A Tribute to Joe Pass (1999) he combined the talents of Charlie Byrd, Gene Bertoncini, Mundell Lowe, and John Pisano.

In November 2010, Campbell was inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Hall of Fame.

Discography

Year Title Label 1990 Nighttime Daydreams Timeless 1991 Gentle Breeze [rel. 1994] Timeless 1992 Vista Raised Eyebrow; Sin-Drome (1993) 1993 Elegy to a Friend Raised Eyebrow; Moon Cycle (2006) 1993 A Tribute to Wes Montgomery by Project G-5 Paddlewheel/King [Japan]; Evidence (1994) 1994 6 x 6 (Six by Six: A Jazz Guitar Celebration) Paddlewheel/King [Japan]; Moon Cycle (2004) 1995 Make Me Rainbows Positive Music 1995 A Tribute to Henry Mancini Episode; String Jazz (1999) 1998 Pitapat A Records/Challenge 1998 Hands Across the Water (with Adrian Ingram) String Jazz 1999 A Tribute to Joe Pass by Project G-5 Paddlewheel/King [Japan] 1999 Royce Campbell with Strings Chase Music 1999 Remembering Wes (with Mel Rhyne) Savant 2002 Trioing Jardis 2003 A Tribute to Charlie Byrd (with Gene Bertoncini) Jardis 2003 A Jazz Guitar Christmas Moon Cycle 2005 Plays for Lovers (with Fred Hersch) Moon Cycle 2006 Gypsy Soul Moon Cycle 2007 Get Happy Foxhaven 2007 A Solo Guitar Christmas Moon Cycle 2008 The Art of Chord Solo Guitar Moon Cycle 2008 A Jazz Guitar Christmas, Volume II Moon Cycle 2008 Trio By Starlight Philology 2008 Roses & Wine Philology 2009 Solo Wes: A Solo Guitar Tribute to Wes Montgomery Moon Cycle 2009 Solo Mancini: A Solo Guitar Tribute to Henry Mancini Moon Cycle 2009 All Standards...and a Blues Philology 2009 Movie Songs Project (with Phil Woods) Philology 2010 Concepts Moon Cycle 2010 What is This Thing Called Philology 2010 Solo Trane: A Solo Guitar Tribute to John Coltrane Moon Cycle 2011 Jazz Blues (compilation) Moon Cycle 2012 All Ballads...and a Bossa Moon Cycle 2012 The Beginning Moon Cycle 2015 Romancing the Tone Moon Cycle 2017 Tea for Three (with Hod O'Brien) Moon Cycle 2018 Duo (with Bob Bowen) Moon Cycle 2019 Organ Trio Moon Cycle 2023 Originals Moon Cycle