Bob Baldwin

[[File:2018-06-24 11.49.34 HDR.jpg|thumb|Bob Baldwin at Ponce City Market, Atlanta, GA Bob Baldwin is an American (New York State) - born contemporary jazz pianist, music composer, author, and producer, who learned music from his father, Robert Baldwin, Sr. Baldwin's recording career started in 1983 and his debut album, A Long Way to Go, released in 1988.His latest release, Bob Baldwin Presents Abbey Road and the Beatles, which honors the English pop group, the Beatles. Baldwin has earned five SESAC Music awards, initially for his 2002–2003 airplay of "The Way She Looked at Me", followed by his 2008 airplay on NewUrbanJazz.com, one in 2010 for his Never Can Say Goodbye: A Tribute to Michael Jackson, in 2011 for NewUrbanJazz.com2 / Re-Vibe, and his 2013 album Twenty.His 2015 release, MelloWonder: Songs in the Key of Stevie, which honors Stevie Wonder, debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard Overall Jazz Chart.. He's also written and/or arranged for Regina Carter, The Four Tops, Grover Washington, Jr., Paul Brown, Richard Elliot, Marion Meadows, Ragan Whiteside, Lori Williams, Tom Browne, Bob James, Will Downing, Freddie Jackson, Rhonda Smith, James Robinson, Joey Sommerville, Vaneese Thomas, Tiffany Bynoe, Howard Hewitt, Whistle, Michael Urbaniak, the Lisa ("Left-Eye") Lopez'-produced girl group Blacque, Canadian trumpeter Gabriel Mark Hasselbach and Pieces of a Dream. He co-wrote and co-produced two songs on Will Downing's "All the Man You Need" album, which was nominated for a Grammy in 2000 (Best Traditional R&B Album).He has also contributed as composer, co-producer and performer on Ragan Whiteside’s ‘Treblemaker’, which charted three top-40 Billboard Contemporary Jazz radio singles; including ‘Corey’s Bop’, which peaked at #1 on 7.21.2018. Featured artists on his own solo recordings since 1988 include; Eric Essix, Kim Waters, Gerald Albright, Phil Perry, Fred Vigdor, Sharon Bryant, Porter Carroll, Jr. (both of Atlantic Starr), Noel Pointer, Lenny White, Larry Coryell, Dean James, Jeff Kashiwa, Chieli Minucci, Chuck Loeb, Edson Da Silva, Leo Gandelman, Lil' John Roberts (drummer), James Robinson, Rohn Lawrence, Darren Rahn, Russ Freeman (Rippingtons), Dennis Johnson, Barry Danielian, Poogie Bell, Euge Groove, CeCe Peniston, Najee, U-Nam, Steve Oliver, Toni Redd, Nils Jiptner, Marcus Anderson, Walter Beasley, as well as the aformentioned Sommerville, Robinson, Washington, Jr., Brown, Meadows, Whiteside, Thomas, Williams, Downing, Browne, Thomas, and Jackson. Bob Baldwin grew up in a musical environment.His father, Robert Baldwin, Sr., (1926-2008) was a full-time Engineer, and a part-time pianist who worked local clubs throughout Westchester County, NY, just north of New York City.While his father was a fan of such jazz icons like Mikes Davis, Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson, his older sister, Deborah, was a fan of soul music of the 1960’s, including music by Motown, Stax record labels.These early musical experiences profoundly impacted Bob’s musical path.He's also a fan of his elder cousin, jazz pianist Larry Willis. In 1987, Sony founded the Sony Innovator's Awards, an annual ceremony to award aspiring Afro-American artists who have shown outstanding talent in music and the visual arts.In his opening speech at the first ceremony held in 1988, music producer Quincy Jones stated that it was encouraging that a large firm like Sony was providing Afro-American artists a chance to be introduced to the entire nation.Baldwin was awarded the Sony Innovators Award in 1989 selected by Roberta Flack. Out of necessity to maintain creative control, he independently learned how to record music from engineers Wayne Warnecke, Dennis.In 1990, Bob worked briefly with producer/arranger/keyboardist Kashif, where he learned about the ‘wall of sound’ panning technique.