Bobby Enriquez Explained

Bobby Enriquez
Birth Name:Roberto Delprado Yulo Enriquez
Birth Date:20 May 1943
Birth Place:Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Commonwealth of the Philippines
Death Place:Stayton, Oregon, U.S.
Genre:Jazz
Occupation:Musician
Instrument:Piano
Years Active:1957–1993
Label:GNP Crescendo

Roberto Delprado Yulo "Bobby" Enriquez (May 20, 1943 – August 6, 1996) was a jazz pianist from the Philippines. He was called "the Wildman" due to his energetic playing style.

Life

Born in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, his first love was the piano (he is self-taught since he was 4 years old) but his mother wanted him to concentrate on schoolwork. He started his professional career as a musician at the age of 14,[1] sneaking out of his second floor bedroom window at night to play gigs. When his mother discovered what he was doing, she shut down the piano and told him to concentrate on homework.

He ran away from home and went to Manila. In Manila he joined jazz groups, and from there he played in Taipei and Hong Kong where he met Mel Tormé, Lionel Hampton, Tito Puente, and Chico Hamilton. He got a job at the Golden Dragon Lounge in Honolulu. In Hawaii he became music director for Don Ho. From 1976 to 1977 he performed with Amapola Cabase in San Francisco, California. This was followed by appearances at the Wagon Wheel and Harrah's Hotel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

From 1980 to 1981, he was a sideman for Richie Cole on tour. During the next four years he made several albums for GNP Crescendo.

Enriquez became a born-again Christian in 1993 and spoke of how God had changed his life. He played jazzy hymns at his church in Bayonne, New Jersey. He died at age 53 due to pulmonary embolism on August 6, 1996, in Stayton, Oregon.[2]

Discography

As leader

Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes
1981The Wild ManGNP Crescendowith Abraham Laboriel (bass guitar), Alex Acuña (drums), Poncho Sanchez (conga), Chuck Domanico (bass), Harvey Mason (drums)
1981The Wild Man Meets the MadmanGNP Crescendo
1982Live! in TokyoGNP Crescendowith (bass), (drums)
1982Bobby Enriquez Plays Bossa NovaGNP Crescendowith Rufus Reid (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)
1982EspañaGNP Crescendowith orchestra
1983Live at Concerts by the SeaGNP Crescendowith Richard Reid (bass), Alex Acuña (drums)
1984Live at Concerts by the Sea, Vol. IIGNP Crescendowith Richard Reid (bass), Alex Acuña (drums)
1987Wild PianoPortraitwith Eddie Gomez (bass), Al Foster (drums)
1993The Wildman ReturnsEvidence[3] with Ray Brown (bass), Al Foster (drums)

As sideman

With Maria Amapola Cabase

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yanow . Scott . Bobby Enriquez . AllMusic . September 7, 2018.
  2. Web site: Obituary – Bobby Enriquez . SFGate . September 7, 2018 . August 10, 1996.
  3. Web site: Reich . Howard . Bobby Enriquez: The Wildman Returns. tribunedigital-chicagotribune . September 7, 2018 . January 16, 1994.