Bobby Donaldson

For the Scottish footballer, see Bobby Donaldson (footballer).

Bobby Donaldson (November 29, 1922, Boston - 1971) was an American jazz and R&B drummer.

After playing locally in the early 1940s, Donaldson played with Russell Procope while serving in the Army in New York City. In 1946-47 Donaldson worked with Cat Anderson, and following this played with Edmond Hall, Andy Kirk, Lucky Millinder, Buck Clayton, Red Norvo, and Sy Oliver/Louis Armstrong. He was a prolific session musician for much of the 1950s and 1960s, playing with Helen Merrill, Ruby Braff, Mel Powell, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Bobby Jaspar, Herbie Mann, André Hodeir, Kenny Burrell, Lonnie Johnson, Frank Wess, Willis Jackson, and Johnny Hodges.

Discography

With Mildred Anderson

• No More In Life (Bluesville, 1961)

With Ray Bryant

• Groove House (Sue, 1963)

With Kenny Burrell

• Weaver of Dreams (Columbia, 1960–61)

With Buck Clayton

• Buck Meets Ruby (Vanguard, 1954) with Ruby Braff
• All the Cats Join In (Columbia 1956)

With Curtis Fuller

• Images of Curtis Fuller (Savoy, 1960)

With Johnny Hodges

• Blue Rabbit (Verve, 1964)

With Willis Jackson

• Neapolitan Nights (Prestige, 1962)
• Star Bag (Prestige, 1968)

With Etta Jones

• Love Shout (Prestige, 1962)

With Herbie Mann

• Flute Flight (Prestige, 1957) - with Bobby Jaspar
• Flute Soufflé (Prestige, 1957) - with Bobby Jaspar
• Yardbird Suite (Savoy, 1957)

With A. K. Salim

• Flute Suite (Savoy, 1957) with Frank Wess and Herbie Mann

With The Three Playmates

• The Three Playmates - The Three Playmates with George Barrow, Jerome Richardson, Budd Johnson, Sam Price, Kenny Burrell, Joe Benjamin, Bobby Donaldson, Ernie Wilkins (arranger) (Savoy Records, 1957)

With Frank Wess

• The Frank Wess Quartet (Prestige, 1960)

With Joe Williams

• A Night at Count Basie's (Vanguard, 1956)

References

• Ron Wynn, Bobby Donaldson at Allmusic