SPECIAL POPS CONDUCTOR

Bob Alberti

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Bob Alberti has spent a lifetime as a professional pianist, composer, conductor and arranger. With jazz as his primary love, he gravitated to the famous clubs on 52nd Street in New York City, gaining a multiplicity of influences from Art Tatum, Bud Powell, BillyTaylor, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing and Bill Evans, as well as from his teacher, famed pianist Teddy Wilson.

After playing in New York with his own trio, Mr. Alberti eventually joined the name bands of the '50s, eventually ending up with Les Brown's Band of Renown in Los Angeles.

He also spent a number of years as personal conductor to well-known stars, including Paul Anka, Johnny Mathis, Jane Morgan, Jerry Vale, Keely Smith, Shari Lewis, Donald O'Connor, Jack Jones, Patti Page, Kay Starr and Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme.

Mr. Alberti spent 23 years at NBC in Burbank, Calif., where he was in charge of music for the long-running Bob Hope television series. Prior to that time, he spent seven years at ABC in Hollywood. He was twice nominated for an Emmy for musical direction.

While at NBC in the '70s and '80s, he served as alternate pianist on the "Tonight Show," with Doc Severinsen's orchestra.

Mr. Alberti has several CDs to his credit and recently completed a book, "Up the Ladder and Over the Top, Memoirs of a Hollywood Studio Musician." Today, Mr. Alberti, who lives in Sun City Hilton Head, plays jazz festivals, symphonies and club dates around the Southeast, in addition to his role as Special Pops Conductor with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.