Interviews

• An Appreciation of Howard Roberts by Tom Cole on NPR's Weekend Edition - July 12, 1992

  This fine piece was aired about two weeks after he died on June 28, 1992. It is based in part on an interview Tom Cole did with him in 1983. There are some nice quotes from Chico Hamilton and H.R. in the piece. Many thanks to Richard Lieberson of NYC for this.

  Obituary on NPR

• Interview with Jazz Guitarist P.D. Drake

  This interview took place in June of 1991 and was conducted by guitarist P.D. Drake who I thank for generously making this, and the accompanying photo, available. This was H.R.'s last interview.

• Audio Interviews with Jack Wagner

  Below are some excerpts from interviews with Howard Roberts conducted by Jack Wagner who had a radio show in the sixties called the Silver Platter Show. The first is actually an audio letter from Howard and Jack to Karkey Karkalits who, at that time, was a young music student in Florida. Karkey is now a musician in Fort Myers and has kindly made this material available. These files are in Real Audio format (.ra).

  • Letter to Karkey - This interview contains many interesting comments about jazz, reading music, etc.

  • Color Him Funky - This interview with Jack Wagner discusses the album and the meaning of the word "funky". Also Howard talks about the guitar he is pictured with on the opening page of this site. This is the first electric guitar made by Gibson. Supposedly H.R. got this guitar from Herb Ellis. It has a beautiful tone. The guitar in the picture above is an ES-175 and I believe this subsequently became the property of Jim Hall.

  • Something's Cookin' - This interview with Jack Wagner discusses Howard Roberts' latest release Something's Cookin'. (Silver Platter Service, From Hollywood with Jack Wagner, Sides 143-144, April, 1964). Many thanks to Jean.

  • Goodies - This interview discusses the album and contains the great Bobby Troup/ Neil Hefti song Girl Talk. Also Howard talks about designing guitars.

  • Whatever's Fair - This interview discusses the album and contains a Howard Roberts original called Pussycat and one of my favourites, Sweet September (issued on Capitol Records lp highlighting releases for May and June 1966).

  • Jaunty Jolly - This interview with Jack Wagner discusses Howard Roberts' latest release Jaunty Jolly and indcludes the tune A Man and a Woman (Silver Platter Service, From Hollywood with Jack Wagner, Sides 249-250, May, 1967).

  • Something's Cookin' - As with the previous interviews this interview with Jack Wagner discusses Howard Roberts' latest release Something's Cookin'. (Silver Platter Service, From Hollywood with Jack Wagner, Sides 143-144, April, 1964).

  • Open-End Interview with Howard Roberts - This interview is on a recording sent to radio announcers. There are no questions on the recording only H.R. answering. My guess is that the announcer read questions while the record was playing so that it appeared that the artist was being interviewed right in the studio. The interview is followed by Florence of Arabia from Color Him Funky and I suspect this was made as a promotional tool for that album. The record was produced by Jack Wagner.