Bobby Caldwell

Robert Hunter Caldwell (August 15, 1951 – March 14, 2023) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He released several albums spanning R&B, soul, jazz, and adult contemporary, and was known for his soulful and versatile vocals. He released the hit single and his signature song "What You Won't Do for Love" from his double platinum debut self-titled album in 1978.

After several R&B and smooth jazz albums, Caldwell turned to singing standards from the Great American Songbook. He wrote many songs for other artists, including the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single "The Next Time I Fall" for Amy Grant and Peter Cetera. Caldwell's musical catalog is perhaps best known today for its later sampling by several prolific hip hop and R&B artists.

Bobby Caldwell was born in Manhattan and grew up in Miami. His mother sold real estate and one of her clients was reggae singer Bob Marley; Bobby and Marley became friends. Bobby was exposed to a variety of music including Latin, reggae, and R&B. His parents hosted a local variety television show called Suppertime. He grew up listening to the music of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. When he was 12, Bobby began to play piano and guitar. He was drawn to rock and roll, jazz, and rhythm and blues.

In the late 1960s when based in Miami, Caldwell formed the group Katmandu alongside keyboardist Norman "Norm" Harris (who would later found Norman's Rare Guitars), guitarist Bob Jabo, and drummer Kenny Zale. While performing blues rock and R&B at Miami clubs and recording at Criteria Studios, the young band caught the attention of rock and roll pioneer Little Richard. Managed by Little Richard and his brother Peyton Penniman, the band was convinced to relocate to Los Angeles, California, to chase a major record deal, releasing a self-titled album on Mainstream Records in 1971.

Following the move to California, Katmandu dissolved. Caldwell remained in Los Angeles, working as a rhythm guitarist for Little Richard's backing band before launching his solo career. Throughout the mid-to-late 1970s, Caldwell maintained a close musical relationship with his former bandmate Norm Harris. While Harris worked by day building his vintage guitar business, Caldwell occasionally joined Harris's Los Angeles-based blues group, the Angel City Rhythm Band (which also featured guitarist Rick Vito), participating in local jams and backing up legendary visiting blues artists like Albert Collins.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.