Bobby Kimmel Biography
Bobby Kimmel is an American musician and songwriter who currently performs with the acoustic folk group, I Hear Voices. He was a founding member of the Stone Poneys, along with Linda Ronstadt and the late Kenny Edwards and has been recording and performing in concert for over 50 years.
Bobby Kimmel Career
Bobby discovered the folk music greats such as Lightnin Hopkins, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt, as well as their peers like Steve Mann, Dick Rosmini, and Ry Cooder. From his father’s music store Phonorecords invaluably inspired him to his musical education.
Kimmel embarked on playing both bass and guitar in the folk music clubs around Tucson in the early 60s. He started performing with his friend, Linda Ronstadt where they played bass in a folk group together with her older brother and sister Peter and Suzie.
The LA Years
Bobby moved from Tucson to Los Angeles in 1963, to further his music career. He hurriedly called Linda(his friend) to join him in LA.
Linda agreed and together they formed The Stone Poneys with LA guitarist Kenny Edwards. After a few months of rehearsal (including in the local laundromat which had great acoustics), the trio played an open-mike gig at The Troubador in West Los Angeles. Following the performance, they resulted in a multi-album contract with Capitol Records.
In the mid-60s the band The Stone Poneys recorded three albums for Capitol and in 1967 they had a major hit with Different Drum, written by Michael Nesmith who soon became Monkees member. On February 12, 1968, the song Different Drum peaked at #12 on the Cashbox Top 100 chart. The first two Stone Poney albums mostly displayed Bobby’s original songs.
The band visited broadly and played the prevalent music TV shows of the day. They showed up on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in New York. They even visited quickly as the opening represents The Doors when “Light My Fire” was a gigantic hit and Jim Morrison was rapidly turning into a popular music phenom.
Pretty much the time “Diverse Drum” turned into an across the nation hit, Kenny Edwards quit The Stone Poneys. Linda and Bobby played one more visit under The Stone Poneys’ name with getting performers, and the gathering disbanded toward the finish of the visit.
McCabe’s Guitar Shop
Following the Stone Poneys break up, Bobby Kimmel created and developed the concert series at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California. It grew into one of the leading acoustic music venues in the country. 7 years later, by the time Kimmel left McCabe’s, it was a notable concert venue attracting artists such as Jackson Browne, Doc & Merle Watson, Emmylou Harris, Odetta, Bill Monroe, Jennifer Warnes, Tom Waits, The New Grass Revival, David Grisman, and Chet Atkins had all headlined there – and many others.
In the mid-70s, Bobby also teamed up with Shep Cooke and LA musician Kit Alderson. They created The Floating House Band, an acoustic singing trio. They recorded an album for Takoma Records, owned by John Fahey the folk guitarist. Bobby went out in the late 70s, playing upright bass with Doc & Merle Watson. They participated in the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Back In Tucson – 4 Corners
He moved back to Tucson in 2001 and connected with his friend Jo Wilkinson, from LA who is a powerful lead singer and songwriter who also moved there. They both got the idea of forming an acoustic singing band here since they had played together at parties in LA. They went to the 2002 Tucson Folk Festival together, and on the 2nd day, they discovered Stefan George and Lavinia White.
Bobby approached Stefan and Lavinia without hesitation and suggested that the 4 of them get together to play music. After a short while, 4 Corners was formed. The quartet began rehearsing seriously at the beginning of 2003. Before Jo departed from the group in the summer of 2006, 4 Corners sang together for 3 1/2 years and released two CDs.
The Second BK Special CD
BK Special released their second CD Hope Spring, containing eight original songs by Bobby Kimmel in 2010.
I Hear Voices!
Bobby retired BK Special in 2012 after almost 10 years together to focus on a lifelong dream of creating a quartet with an exclusively vocal concept and almost no instrumental presence. Bobby united with Tucson musicians Kathy Harris, Bobby Ronstadt, and Suzy Ronstadt to form I Hear Voices! and realize that dream.
I Hear Voices! discharged their self-titled CD in the late spring of 2013 during their appearance at the Tucson Folk Festival where they had a highlighted spot. In July 2013 the gathering made a trip to Santa Monica, CA to play McCabe’s Guitar Shop, the club Bobby opened in 1969, and had turned out to be one of the head acoustic settings in the nation.
Bobby Kimmel Age
Bobby Kimmel was born in the United States on September 1, 1940. He is 79 years as of 2019.
Bobby Kimmel Family
Bobby’s early musical influence was jazz, especially West Coast jazz. He also listened to the harder East Coast Jazz. His passion for jazz continued all throughout his high school years, and it was not until he discovered the guitar (at age 17) that his musical direction changed.
Bobby Kimmel Wife
He is married but information about his relations over the years has been kept off the limelight. This information will be updated as soon as it is clear.
Bobby Kimmel Body Measurements
- Height: Not Available
- Weight: Not Available
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Body Shape: Not Available
- Hair Colour: Grey
Bobby Kimmel Net Worth
Kimmel is an American musician and songwriter whose estimated net worth is still under review.
Bobby Kimmel Discography
Albums
The Stone Poneys – The Stone Poneys (album) – (rel. 1/67) Capitol Records
The Stone Poneys – Evergreen, Volume 2 – (rel. 6/67) (#100) Capitol Records
The Stone Poneys – Linda Ronstadt, Stone Poneys and Friends, Vol. III – (rel. 4/68) Capitol Records
The Stone Poneys – The Stone Poneys Featuring Linda Ronstadt – (rel. 3/75, a reissue of the first album) (#172) Capitol Records
The Floating House Band – The Floating House Band – (rel. 1972) Takoma Records
4 Corners – 4 Corners
4 Corners – 4 Corners Live at McCabes
BK Special – BK Special (rel. 2007)
BK Special – Hope Springs (rel. 2010)
I Hear Voices! – I Hear Voices! (rel. 2013)
I Hear Voices! – I Hear Voices with Strings (rel. 2015)
Singles
The Stone Poneys – “Sweet Summer Blue and Gold” b/w “All the Beautiful Things” (rel. 1/67) – #45-1024 Capitol Records
The Stone Poneys – “One for One” b/w “Evergreen” (rel. 6/67) – #5910; Capitol Records
The Stone Poneys – “Different Drum” b/w “I’ve Got to Know” (rel. 9/67) – #2004; (#13) Capitol Records
The Stone Poneys – “Up to My Neck in High Muddy Water” b/w “Carnival Bear” (rel. 3/68) – #2110; (#93) Capitol Records
The Stone Poneys – “Some of Shelly’s Blues” b/w “Hobo” (rel. 5/68) – #2195; Capitol Records
Albums
Frequently Asked Questions About Bobby Kimmel
Who is Bobby Kimmel?
He is an American musician and songwriter who currently performs with the acoustic folk group, I Hear Voices.
How old is Kimmel?
How tall is Kimmel?
His height is yet to be updated.
Is Kimmel married?
He is married but information about his relations over the years has been kept off the limelight. This information will be updated as soon as it is clear.
How much is Kimmel worth?
Kimmel is an American musician and songwriter whose estimated net worth is still under review.
How much does Kimmel make?
According to our reliable sources, his annual estimated salary is yet to be updated.
Where does Kimmel live?
He was born in the United States and currently resides in Tucson.
Is Kimmel dead or alive?
Bobby is still alive and in good health.
Where is Kimmel now?
He currently performs with the acoustic folk group, I Hear Voices.