His mother thought that dancing school would help burn off some of the extra energy he had because in those days he was considered a “hyper child.” It turned out that he loved it and it probably helped him develop his keen sense of rhythm.It also led him to his second guitar teacher, Lyn Vernon, who played and taught a chord melody style that was pretty advanced for kids. He met the Mitchell family who lived in a nearby neighborhood.That’s where he met Willie Mitchell who was already a successful bandleader and recording artist. It was at the Mitchell house where he first heard the blues on radio station WDIA. He was addicted to the groove from that moment on. He is most proud that he was reunited with Willie when asked to play on the last two albums Willie produced, Al Green’s highly acclaimed “Everything’s OK” and Soloman Burke’s “Nothing’s Impossible.”
Bobby joined Stax Records as a staff engineer in late 1967 shortly after the tragic death of Otis Redding and members of the Bar-Kays. Stax had recently dissolved their production/distribution agreement with Atlantic Records and the plan was to build an entire new catalogue. He worked on over twenty-three albums within his first year. One of his first assignments was engineering on the “Home” album by Bonnie and Delany as well as playing guitar on the single “Take A Little Piece Of My Heart.” He engineered and played guitar on the Emotion’s hit album and single “So I Can Love You” as well co-writing songs with the Bar-Kays and many others.
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