Robert Albert "Bobby" Sexton is an American blues/rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. Sexton gave his first singing performance at the age of 5 and began studying and playing music at the age of 7. He played his first TV show the following year as well as performing in his first band. By the time he was 10, he won the city talent competition performing and singing solo, as well as starting his own band, ‘The Planets’. He had been playing in bands since he was 8, but one of his music instructors who had played the Las Vegas circuit saw the talent, and he hired Sexton in his nightclub band when he was just 13 years old. The city mayor had to sign a form to allow him to work at such a young age. Sexton’s junior high school principal as well as his high school principal and teacher’s would come and see him play and sing and would shout out “Give Bobby a solo’!
Sexton continued playing in the top bands in the area and the surrounding states and at 17, started studying Classical Piano at the University of Iowa. After his studies, he pursued his music career in Los Angeles. It started with a Las Vegas show band in Newport Beach where they were performing on a national tour. When the tour was over, Sexton moved into Hollywood and put together his own band. Fronting and lead singing, they were performing 6 to 7 nights a week in Los Angeles and Orange County, San Francisco, Palm Springs, San Diego, Big Bear, Mammoth, Las Vegas, Phoenix as well as other cities.
Sexton left the band for a few months to tour with Michael Jackson. On tour, he met Dianna Ross among many others, but remembers the night when Patti LaBelle came backstage in Philadelphia who came over and told him “You are going to be somebody someday”. “Keep doing what you are doing and never let anything or anyone stop you”. I have never forgotten those encouraging words from one of the greatest singers of all time.
When the tour was over, Sexton started playing and singing with his own band again. During this time, he had been writing and working on his original music. At one of his performances, Sexton was approached by a producer from an Indie Record Company (GNP Crescendo Records) who considered him to be one of the best acts in Los Angeles. After their initial meeting, they hired Sexton on as a studio musician to play on various jingles, soundtracks, and other artists recordings including Savoy Brown’s ‘Kings of Boogie’. Sexton also toured with various groups such as ‘Three Dog Night’, ‘Flock of Seagulls’, ‘Robin Trower’, ‘Savoy Brown’ and many others.
The record label soon approached Sexton with his own recording contract which led to Bobby’s first CD, ‘Facing Destiny’. Sexton wrote, sang and played all of the songs but one and followed up with several United States tours. Finishing the last tour, Sexton decided to leave the record company to produce and market his own music.
Sexton’s musical style is characterized by rock, blues, and soulful singing. His musical style continues to evolve. He started studying composition, arranging, conducting, electronic music, engineering, mixing, mastering, production, post-production, as well as classical and jazz music. He completed an AA Degree in Commercial Music. After being encouraged to attend U.S.C., Sexton auditioned and was awarded a full scholarship for a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies). After completing his undergraduate degree, Sexton decided to apply for the Master of Music (Jazz Studies). He was told he would have to wait a year because the program was full. Sexton played at various rock and blues venues for the next year.
A year later at his graduate audition, Bobby played a Herbie Hancock arrangement and a Bud Powell selection. After finishing his performance, Sexton was again awarded a full scholarship for the graduate program specializing as a Performance Major (Jazz Studies). Sexton put together ‘The Bobby Sexton Jazz Trio’ which he played with during his U.S.C. days and after. He produced a Jazz EP during this period entitled ‘Love Vibrations’, as well as writing and producing a theme song for a Las Vegas TV Show called ‘Beauty Rocks’. Sexton was also playing the top nightclub circuit in Los Angeles, as well as acting as “Musical Director’ for other productions.
Sexton is currently working on his new compositions in his home studio in Los Angeles as well as doing live performances. He recently went to New York City on music business as well as to perform. Mr. Sexton went to Electric Lady Studios to talk about recording there in the near future and plans on releasing his new EP this coming March, 2018 followed by a CD release in soon to follow.