Fan Fare, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where you’ll find TJ photos and stories that don’t fit into any other categories. It is, as its name says, just for fans — and, hopefully, for fun.
Revisiting A Favorite Friend: Percussionist Bobby Torres
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007Over the years, long-time fans have come to know Tom’s band and singers. Here, we visit Bobby Torres, apparently a favorite of Tom’s and, we learned when we were putting together our Back In the Day pages, a fan favorite, too.
Bobby Torres was Tom’s percussionist from 1980 to 1989. In that time, he traveled worldwide with Tom, forming a lasting friendship.
Before he joined Tom, he played with Joe Cocker at Woodstock, Jackson Browne, Kenny Rogers and many others. Today, the Portland-based musician fronts the jazz group, The Bobby Torres Ensemble.
We emailed Bobby and asked if we could post his story on our site. His response? “I don’t mind at all. Tom to me is one of the most gracious wonders of the world.”
So, in a 2000 interview posted on his site, Torres says:
“He’s one of the greatest guys I ever met. Really, man… so down to earth. That was the longest gig I ever had in my life. This guy is so down to earth, compared to anybody I’ve ever played with… and I’ve played with quite a bit. (Laughs) I mean, as far as relating, you have other acts where you can’t talk to them. You have to go through another person to say hello. I got to be good friends with Tom though.
Interviewer: Did he have a kind of family attitude about the band, then?
BT: Yeah, he’d throw parties for whosever birthday it was. Everyone would chip in to buy gifts, the girls would buy the gifts, have a party, take pictures. Man, this guy’s phenomenal. Playing with Tom Jones, I learned a lot about attitude. One time we were rehearsing a tune that the drummer couldn’t really get. He was an English drummer, and after about an hour I was really getting pissed off, like “How simple could this be?” But Tom, it didn’t bother him at all. He said, “Let’s just move on to another song.” When I saw that, being from New York, I was pretty impressed by how cool he stayed.
Interviewer: Did he measure up to others in terms of his performance?
BT: Oh, yeah. He was an amazing performer. We did Green Green Grass of Home hundreds of times, of course. But we did it once in Wales with the Welsh Choir backing it. One hundred guys… I was bawling after that. Those highlights, you know, are really unforgettable. I’m lucky, I’m real lucky.
Interviewer: You mentioned that you’re still in touch with him.
BT: Yeah, yeah, I just saw him last November (1999). And the last time he was in Portland was when I was playing with my band at Key Largo. Tony (the club’s owner) asked me to try to get him down to see us, as I’d be the toast of the town. I felt funny doing that, though, you know? But I go out and see him in Seattle, where he was playing before Portland, and I ask him to come see me. He says, “Yeah, I think so.” Then when he gets to Portland he says that he has a sore throat, so might not make it. I says, “Cool, no pressure.” Well, Tony had meanwhile put it all over town that Tom Jones was going to show up, and so on Sunday night the place was packed when we got there. It was packed. Then all of a sudden three buses show up: Tom and his bus, the crew bus, and the band bus. He brought everybody.
MW: Did he hang for a while?
BT: The whole set!
Thanks, Holly, for the link.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Living in Portland I’m embarrassed to said I was not familiar with Bobby Torres but will definitely check him out. TJ hasn’t played Portland in a few years and the last time he shared the stage with Tower of Power. They are a great band but diehard fans prefer their TJ straight (as in undiluted).
October 16th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
I heard Jay Lenno say the same thing in an interview, “he invited us backstage to parties, and believe me.. this man knows how to party”. (Jay started out opening for Tom in the 1970’s) and he calls him “Boss”.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
So if Jay Leno respects him and calls him “the Boss” why didn’t he have Tom on the Tonight Show just before he was to play the Hollywood Bowl for the first time in his career (a very prestigious gig, the Bowl) and this was also shortly after he got knighted. Two important things to talk about on a talk show! And as far as I know, Tom hasn’t been on the Tonight Show in quite some time…
October 16th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
I don’t think that he’s been on any talk show lately…..
October 16th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Hmm… all in favor of taking Tom over their knee and spanking him say aiye. AIYE!
October 17th, 2007 at 7:58 am
Aiye!
October 17th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Hate to get back on topic, but Tom’s incumbent percussionist, Herman, is appearing here in Las Vegas tonight and tomorrow night with Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps. You can check Herman’s website for details.
Seems that Tom’s musicians are always favorites of the fans and are all tremendously talented. They also generally admire Sir Tom. Not too many performers can claim that honor. We hear so many stories of cold, aloof and, as Torres truthfully says, entertainers with whom “you have to go through another person to say hello.”
October 17th, 2007 at 10:09 am
I wish that I was in his band. It’s just so very hard to meet him if you’re just a fan
October 17th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
I wish i was a back up singer to be in tom band.It is so hard to meet him.fan of tom.
October 22nd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
A real nice story. I got to meet Bobby back in Vally Forge, PA. in the early 80’s. He was a very nice man who took the time to talk. Again, nice story.