Bob Whitlock is an accomplished, self-taught guitarist who defines the word talent. He was inspired by the recordings of Chet Atkins and Johnny Smith. Bob bought his first guitar at the age of twelve and started giving lessons at the age of thirteen, when he also won an international guitar contest comprised of guitarists ranging in ages from thirteen to sixteen years of age.
Whitlock continued his musical career by majoring in music at West Virginia State, learning to play a wide variety of stringed instruments including a self-made seven-string guitar, the steel guitar, mandolin, banjo, and both electric and upright bass.
Bob's love of music has given him the opportunity to play in a wide variety of settings from jazz, to dixieland, to bluegrass, to pop, to society music.
In a long list of performances, Bob has accompanied such artists as Steve Allen, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Vic Damone, Dizzy Gillispie, Bob Hope and many others too numerous to mention, and also toured with Henry Mancini's sixty-five piece orchestra. Bob is very busy in the recording studios throughout South Florida; his music has been used for the Orange Bowl half-time presentations, Jackie Gleason specials, and various commercials.
Adding to Whitlock's list of acheivements, he taught at Florida Atlantic University and is often asked to do masters classes and seminars. Some of his students have gone on to work with name groups .Ref... Jaco Pastorius and Randy Bernsen who both served a tenure with Weather Report, and Blood Sweat and Tears. Another of Bob's students is Vince Lewis, the great jazz guitarist from West Virginia, who along with Bob is a Heritage endorser. Benedetto guitars are ensorsed by Bob as well.
Bob resides in Ft. Lauderdale and can be seen performing at many jazz clubs, hotels and country clubs throughout the south. "The Johnny Smith Rose" is Whitlock's personal choice of Heritage Guitars, and the expert guitarist adds, "When I play my guitar, it needs to vibrate so I can feel the energy of my music. The Heritage guitar does that for me."
Most recently, Bob can be heard on his son, keyboard/organist Rob Whitlock's CD recordings Sketchin' and Sketchin'2 . These CD releases also feature many talented artists such as,
Michael Brecker, Scott Henderson and Anthony Jackson, to name a few.
Get Your Own! | View Slideshow
