Bob Amato

Bob Amato was born in December 1949 and raised in Adams, Massachusetts, which is at the foot of Mt. Greylock (the tallest mountain in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet) and is situated in beautiful Northern Berkshire County situated at the New York and Vermont border.

Bob attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst from 1967-1972 where he was a ‘dual’ music major.  In addition to being the first UMASS-Amherst music major to ever earn a Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet Performance, Bob was also a music education major.

In 1967-1968, Bob also completed a marvelous correspondence by mail course that focused on commercial arranging and composition from the Berklee School of Music in Boston.   This ‘mail order’ course was referred by sax player, Jake Epstein who was the bandleader of Forever Fabulous Incorporated Soulband.  And, Paul Driscoll.  Paul was a 20 year veteran of the U.S. Air Force band.  In 1967, Paul enrolled in the UMASS/Amherst music department under the G.I. Bill.  Paul was first chair alto sax in the UMASS Symphony Band, as well as a fine commercial pianist.  Paul was also a skilled arranger who developed and published his own ‘mail order’ arranging and composition course.

Bob’s private instructor at Berklee was a fine jazz pianist, arranger and composer, Howard ‘Dean’ Earl who taught at Berklee for approximately 50 years.

While at UMASS Bob played lead trumpet with the Amherst Jazz Orchestra in 1967-May 1968 under the Direction of Amherst College Senior and trumpet player, Jim Meyer.  And, the Forever Fabulous Incorporated Soul 12 piece soul band from 1967-1969.  During the summers, when available, Bob played lead trumpet with the Berkshire Jazz Orchestra as well under the direction of John Talerico.

While at UMASS Bob also played 1st Chair Cornet in the UMASS Symphony Band under

Professor John Jenkins and 1st Chair Trumpet in the UMASS Orchestra from 1969-1972 under the Direction of Professor Ronald Steele.
1969-1972 – Principal Trumpet – Smith/Amherst College Orchestra
1969-1972 – Frequent featured trumpet soloist with the Mt. Holyoke College Glee Club
1968 – 1974 – Lead Trumpet (When available) with the Williamstown Theatre Festival
1968-1974 – Lead Trumpet (When available) Berkshire Jazz Orchestra
1973 – Principal Trumpet and featured soloist with the Cyprus National Chamber Orchestra
1973-1974 – Principal Trumpet – Annapolis Maryland Orchestra under the Direction of Leon Fleisher
1974 -1975 – Founder and 1st Trumpet – Berkshire Brass Quintet
1975 – Band Leader/Lead Trumpet –  Hoxie Brothers Circus 

1976 – Band Leader/Lead Trumpet/Arranger – Jim Nordmark’s International All Star Circus
1977 – Lead Trumpet – Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus (Red Unit under the Direction of Keith Green)
1978 -1981 Lead Trumpet – Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus World – Florida Theme Park Big Show Band
1981 – Lead Trumpet/Band Leader/Arranger – Circus Tivoli – Toronto, Canada
1981 – Lead Trumpet/Band Leader/Arranger – Ward Hall’s Wonderful World of Magic
1981-1983 – Third Trumpet – Blue Room Orchestra – New Orleans Fairmont Hotel
1985-1986 – 1st Trumpet/Founder New Orleans Brass Quintet
1983 – 1992 – Lead Trumpet – Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra, Jimmy Ille Rag Time Band, Jimmy Ille Ragtime Orchestra

Trumpet Teachers:

• John Coffey – 1960
• Walter Chesnut – 1967-1972
• Carmine Caruso – 1967-1971
• Don Tison – 1973-1974
• Frank Kaderabeck – 1974
• Dr. Donald S. Reinhardt – Early 1978

Fairmont/Roosevelt Hotel – Blue Room – Orchestra/Artist/Shows – New Orleans, LA – Bill Clifford, Music Director 1981-1983

– Ella Fitzgerald
– Lou Rawls
– Roger Miller
– Cheeta Rivera
– Four Freshmen
– George Shearing
– Anthony Newley 
– Clint Holmes 
– The Temptations
– The Four Tops
– Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé 
– Carol Channing
– Connie Stevens
– Nancy Wilson
– Joe Williams
– Rosemary Clooney
– Rita Coolidge
– Debbie Boone
– Cyd Charise
– The Pointer Sisters

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and/or French Quarter Fest Stage Shows (1984-1989)
Al Hirt Orchestra
Fats Domino Orchestra under the Direction of Dave Bartholomew