Bobbie Webb : Dynamic Sax Player and Band Leader - Featured Guest Performer at the APRISF 2008 Annual Fundraising Dinner

By Leilani Webb, Daughter
March 1, 2008

Bobbie Webb born in Tyler, Texas and raised in San Francisco from the age of five. Mr. Webb has always had music in his home. He is a graduate of George Washington High School where he studied and played in the advanced band. He is now a world class musician widely sought after for his Sax playing and the horn sections he leads. You may see Bobbie Webb performing in his own band, or backing some of the greatest musicians as they travel through the San Francisco Bay Area. He has played with the best of then and paid his dues. A chance to see Bobbie Webb in action is something you don’t want to miss!

 

 

 

 

 

Bobbie Webb is a musician you can count on to get the job done right in style every time. Whether performing with his Smooth Blues Band, or backing blues greats on tour, Bobbie Webb is “The Man". He has performed with and has backed, Bobby Bland, Charles Brown, Albert King, Lowell Fulsom, Etta James, Percy Mayfield, T-Bone Walker, Little Milton, Clareance " Guitar Sims, Frankie Lee, John Lee Hooker and John Lee Hooker, Jr, Eddie" Cleanhead" Vincent, Charlie Musselwhite, Al Rapone, Queen Aida, Jimmy McCracklin and many many more. He has also recorded albums with Percy Mayfield, al Rapone, Maxine Howard and others.


 

In addition to working full time as a musician, Bobbie Webb serves as CEO and Founder of the Blues and R & B Music Foundation, Inc. The foundation is a direct result of Bobbie Webb's experience in the fields of music and administration. The Blues and R & B Music Foundation, Inc is a non profit charitable organization established to promote, sponsor and preserve the blues. Bobbie Webb has functioned as director and producer in addition to performing on stage as a musician, band leader and host. The foundation is also working on providing instruments to young children who need them and to help elder and established musicians with benefit events in times of need. Mr. Webb was the former Treasurer of the Fillmore Merchants Association. He also sits as a Board Member of the Market Street M.S.A People in the plaza.



 

 

 

 

Since 1995 the organization has promoted and produced annually the California Blues Festival held every Memorial Day in the Golden Gates Band Shell Area in San Francisco. This event is "FREE" to the public. This festival features five hours of great musical performances in a comfortable, laid-back family environment.

Since October 2001, I've been the DJ of my own Tuesday Morning Blues Show on KPOO 89.5 FM radio which airs 9am to 12noon. This is a major step for me in the music industry. In honor of my contributions to the Western Addition for many years, the Redevelopment Agency has placed my name on the Fillmore Street "Walk of Fame" along with many other celebrities and entertainers.

Mr. Bobbie Webb joined the S.E.I.U. Local 87 on November 1, 1955. George Hardy was the president during that time. Mr. Webb’s first union assignment was with Downtown Bowl located on Eddy and Jones Street in San Francisco. He began as a custodian and worked his way up to head mechanic for the AMF automatic pin spotters bowling machines which was later replaced with the Brunswick automatic pin spotters bowling machine, giving him knowledge of two different types of machinery. Mr. Webb worked for Downtown Bowl for 22 years and had worked his way up to Head Mechanic and Maintenance Supervisor. Downtown Bowl was owned by the Golobic family. Downtown Bowl was torn down for geographical issues. Downtown Bowl is now Serra Bowl and it’s located in Daly City and still owned by the Golobic family of whom Mr. Webb still keeps in contact with. When the Downtown Bowl building was torn down, they used the land to build a park.

After Mr. Webb left Downtown Bowl, he took another assignment and began working at California First Bank in San Francisco. Mr. Webb was the Daytime Maintenance Supervisor for 3 years. There was a huge buzz about Mr. Webb’s dedication, hard work and strong loyal union affiliations and was approached by Ray Jacobs, the President and Bob Parr, Vice President, two very powerful and influential leaders and offered Mr. Webb the position of Business Agent. California First Bank also offered Mr. Webb an engineering position and offered to finance and send Mr. Webb to begin and complete all necessary engineering courses to becoming a certified engineer. Mr. Webb was faced with a very hard decision to choose between the positions of engineer or business agent. Mr. Webb chose and accepted the position of Business Agent of S.E.I.U. Local 87 where he held this position successfully for 3 years.

When Mr. Webb’s term as Business Agent was done, he took his final assignment with the Multi-Millionaire Walter Shorenstein who owned over 13 prime commercial real estate properties in San Francisco. Mr. Webb started in one of his buildings, 50 Fremont as Daytime Maintenance Supervisor. He then was personally requested to work at Mr. Shorenstein’s 555 California Bank of America location where he continued his position of Daytime Maintenance Supervisor until he retired.

Mr. Webb is still an active non-working member who pays his union dues faithfully yearly and he didn’t take out a withdrawal slip when he retired. Mr. Webb is also an active life member of local 6, the musician’s union.

 

 

 

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