Bob Havens,
Trombone (1960-1982) Havens Was A Protege of Jack Teagarden
Bob
Havens played the trombone for the Lawrence
Welk Show from 1960 to 1982 and fashioned a
reputation as a notable Dixieland jazz trombonist
and leading example of the Jack Teagarden style. His
powerful delivery and smooth phrasing have made him
much in demand at jazz festivals and concerts
throughout the world. Havens was born to a musical
family in 1930 in Quincy, Illinois and began
studying violin and trombone at age 7, playing both
instruments throughout his school years. He landed
his first professional job with a local dance band
at age 12 and at the age of 16, received a trombone
scholarship from the Interlochen Music Camp in
Michigan. Havens went on to hold the first trombone
chair in the school's 250 piece concert band.
Afterward, he also held the first trombone chair in
the Quincy Symphony. After serving in the Illinois
National Guard as a bandsman during the Korean
conflict, He left Quincy in 1955 to tour with the
Ralph Flanagan Orchestra. In 1956, he joined George
Girard's Dixieland Band at the Famous Door in New
Orleans. There, he met his idol, Jack Teagarden.
In 1957, Bob joined fellow Welk Show alumni Al Hirt
at Dan's Pier 600 on Bourbon Street in New Orleans
when Hirt formed his very first band. The front line
consisted of Hirt, Havens and Pete Fountain. During
this time, he recorded albums for Good Times Jazz
and Vic labels with the Girrad band and on Verve and
Audio Fidelity with Al Hirt. He also recorded about
a dozen albums for the Southland label with many
other New Orleans musicians. Bob stayed with the
group until 1960 when he was persuaded to move to
the West Coast and join the Lawrence Welk Orchestra
as a featured soloist on their weekly TV series.
After
Lawrence Welk
Since leaving the show in 1982, he has continued
to be active as a free-lance professional
working often with the Bob Crosby Bob Cats and
the Benny Goodman Orchestra (led by clarinetist
Peanuts Hucko). From 1985 to 1995, Havens played
with the Great Pacific Jazz Band along with Bob
Ringwald (lead vocals/piano), Don Nelson
(saxophone), Jim Turner (piano) and Zeke Zarchy
(trumpet). Bob also performed at the Welk
Champagne Theatre in Branson, Missouri. Bob
lives in Quincy, Illinois.