Bobby Koelble

Bobby Koelble (born September 15, 1968) is an American guitarist who performs in the death metal, blues, funk and jazz genres, and as a freelance, studio musician. He is probably best known for his performances with the death metal band Death. The album he played on, Symbolic, was regarded by Joel McIver of British music magazine Record Collector "as close to flawless as metal gets."

Early years

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Koelble’s family moved to central Florida when he was three years old. He began playing the organ when he was seven. By thirteen, Koelble transitioned to guitar, inspired by hard rock banks like Van Halen and AC/DC. His evolution into metal music was influenced by bands like Iron Maiden, Motörhead and Judas Priest.

Education

Koelble graduated the Berklee College of Music with a bachelors’ degree in performance.

Career

Koelble works on original projects, as a leader, and performs for other groups as freelancer, and in studio work.

Performance

Koelble is best known for his time in the latter years of Death (1994-1996).

Koelble joined Death when its founder, Chuck Schuldiner, whom he had met in high school in the Orlando area, was recommended to him through a friend working at a local music store.

Koelble toured with the band in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan, before Death was disbanded.

He performs with The Jazz Professors, a jazz group with two Top-20 Billboard Jazz albums.

Teaching

• Adjunct Professor, Jazz Guitar - University of Central Florida (2007–)
• Adjunct Professor, Jazz Guitar - Rollins College (1998–)
• Visiting professor, Seminole Community College (2003–2005)

Other

Instructor/Consultant - TalkingTabs, producing guitar instruction for the blind and learning disabled.

Performed with

• Death
• Sam Rivers
• Danny Gottlieb
• Chris Potter
• The Jazz Professors
• Junkie Rush