Born in Baytown, Tx, young Bob Odneal started playing the cornet in 6th grade. Shortly thereafter he met and heard jazz greats Louis Armstrong and Al Hirt, wherein he came to the conclusion that he wanted to be a professional trumpet player. His career started early as he backed-up ‘Doc’ Severinsen during his last three years of high school at Robert E. Lee High in Baytown. His senior year peaked when he was invited by ‘Doc’ to play "Bugler’s Holiday" as a trumpet trio with Severinsen.
Bob Odneal graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelors of Music Education in 1973 and a Masters of Arts in trumpet performance, and minoring in conducting and theory in 1983. He has taught a variety of age ranges, including public middle and high school as well as at the college level. He has been with San Jacinto College South for 23 years and has chaired the Music Department for 8 years. He has also taught inmates at the State of Texas Department of Corrections.
Touring Orchestras
Ray Charles
Maynard Ferguson
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
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Major Stars (Partial List) worked with or backed up:
Aretha Franklin
Liza Minelli
Ann-Margret
Mel Torme
Liberace
Flip Wilson
Ray Charles
Doc Severinsen
Maynard Ferguson
Bob Newhart
Dean Scott
Milton Berle
Ben Vareen
Randy Travis
The Temptations
The O'Jays
The Four Tops
The Spinners
Andy Williams
Glen Campbell
José Luis Rodríguez El Puma
Bernadette Peters
5th Dimension
Foster Brooks
Peter Allen
John Denver
Rich Little
Brian Black
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5 years with the Houston Pops Orchestra
Played lead trumpet with all major Houston Big Bands including:
Ronnie Renfrow Orch.
19 years on lead trumpet
Ed Gerlach Orchestra
Danny Ward Orchestra
Buddy Brock Orch.
The Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra
and others
Leader of my own groups
Inferno
The Bob Odneal Orchestra
over 30 years experience in the music business
Bob Odneal
