Bob Bates (September 1, 1923 – September 13, 1981) was an American jazz bassist.[1]
Early life
Bates was born in Pocatello, Idaho.[1] His mother was an organist,[1] while his brothers Norman and Jim were also bassists.[2] As a youth, he played tuba, trumpet, and trombone.[1] He then studied classical bass from 1944 to 1948[2] and played with Sonny Dunham in 1946 and 1947.[1][2] Bates began performing with Jack Fina in the late 1940s.[1]
Career
Early in the 1950s, Bates played in the Two Beaux & a Peep Trio.[1] He was the bassist in the popular Dave Brubeck Quartet between 1953 and 1955.[1] In addition to Brubeck, Bates also recorded with Paul Desmond in 1954, and Dave Pell in 1956.[2] He stopped playing at around this time.[2]
Personal life
Bates died in 1981 in San Francisco, at the age of 58.[2]