Bob Porter has died

[rostasi]

Bob Porter

[Rabshakeh]

That's very sad. I finished his Soul Jazz book last month and enjoyed it, as I have enjoyed many albums he produced over the years.

[Chuck Nessa]

Damn. He's been a friend since the '70s.

[jazztrain]

8 minutes ago, Chuck Nessa said:

Damn. He's been a friend since the '70s.

Crap.  I always looked forward to catching up with Bob at the record bash in NJ and when he passed through the Boston area.  He'll be missed.

[JSngry]

A vital contributor to the culture whose loss will be felt going forth. RIP.

[Dan Gould]

Definitely sad news. I'm glad that Soul Jazz got published, it's a great legacy in addition to the production credits and a lot more. 

[Rabshakeh]

1 minute ago, Dan Gould said:

Definitely sad news. I'm glad that Soul Jazz got published, it's a great legacy in addition to the production credits and a lot more. 

I loved the concentration on what was commercially a hit in the community as the key metric of success. It helped cut through the general critical noise we all take for granted.

[mjzee]

RIP.  He brought us some great music.  I also liked his book.

[HutchFan]

Sad news. R.I.P.

 

[Hardbopjazz]

RIP, Bob. He was a lover of the music and kept it on the airways when so many other jazz format stations folded. 

[ghost of miles]

Dammit. I talked at length with him on the phone when I did the Night Lights show following the release of Soul Jazz, and felt fortunate to more directly experience the passion and grace that suffused everything he did. We carried Portraits In Blue for many years when the show was syndicated. Very sorry to read this news.

[GA Russell]

RIP.  There aren't many of his generation left.

[Stereojack]

Bob was a fountain of knowledge who I could always rely upon for tidbits of information from when I first met him forty years ago. Over the years we became good friends and business associates in the record business, and we did many deals together. I know I'll be one of many who will miss him. 

[mikeweil]

R.I.P. A great loss ......

[J.A.W.]

Very sad news.

[Chuck Nessa]

Back in the mid '80s I spent a night at his place in Bergenfield NJ. The spare room was in the basement with his lp collection. I remember falling asleep admiring his big box of Jerry Lee Lewis Sun recordings.

[JSngry]

When I was a kid, I just assumed that Bob Weinstock no longer owned Prestige and that Bob Porter was the owner.

True.

[Peter Friedman]

Sorry to hear this about Bob. He will be missed.

R.I.P.

[Brad]

What a shame. I’m glad that David was able to interview him for his Soul Jazz episode. RIP. 

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

RIP MY DAWG BOB PORTER, I cant believe he was already 80. When he was 5 years younger than I am now and just 5 years before I came to earth, he had the foresight to run this off while they were putting together "Gene Ammons: The 78 era."- seems like it's probably the only copy outside the vault.  THANK YOU BOB PORTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy your time in space, hope youre life review goes well and hope you get to experience an even more musical and jazzier planet to try out next.  

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez

[Big Beat Steve]

From over here across the pond, thanks for the reissue productions, liner notes and the Soul Jazz book.
The name "Bob Porter" on a record sleeve spelled Quality.

RIP

[mikeweil]

1 hour ago, Big Beat Steve said:

From over here across the pond, thanks for the reissue productions, liner notes and the Soul Jazz book.
The name "Bob Porter" on a record sleeve spelled Quality.

RIP

I couldn't say it better!

[bertrand]

Michael Cuscuna shared his personal recollections somewhere. This intrigued me:

I mentioned to Bob that I had finally found one of the rare LPs on my want list and it was very disappointing. With a strong stare in my direction, he intoned, "you know, most rare records are rare for very good reason." 

I somewhat disagree with this statement. Discuss.

 

 

 

 

[Dan Gould]

1 minute ago, bertrand said:

Michael Cuscuna shared his personal recollections somewhere. This intrigued me:

I mentioned to Bob that I had finally found one of the rare LPs on my want list and it was very disappointing. With a strong stare in my direction, he intoned, "you know, most rare records are rare for very good reason." 

I somewhat disagree with this statement. Discuss.

 

 

 

 

What recording was it, Bertrand?

He can be right, and he can be wrong.  Transition didn't have great distribution, right? But finding an original Transition release maybe really hard but it doesn't mean those Donald Byrd records are bad.

OTOH I used a recording by Jimmy Colvin on my last BFT, the whole record is awesome, IMHO, and probably about as rare as hen's teeth. So its one of those "rare" records that didn't deserve it's fate in the marketplace? In the end its about expectations, and in many cases, "crazy collector" syndrome, too. 

[JSngry]

Define "very good reason", please.

I mean, if only 100 or so copies were pressed, that's a very good reason.