Bob Mayo
Background information
Birth nameRobert Mayo
Also known asBob Mayo, Bobby Mayo
BornAugust 25, 1951
New York City, USA
DiedFebruary 23, 2004 (aged 52)
Basel, Switzerland
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
Years active1960s–2004

Robert J. Mayo (August 25, 1951 – February 23, 2004) was an American session keyboardist and guitarist, perhaps best known for his work with Peter Frampton.[1]

Biography

Mayo was born in New York City, and grew up in Westchester County. He began studying music at the age of five, focusing on classical piano. During the 1960s, Mayo's interest in music grew due to the rock explosion. His first band was called Ramble and the Descendants, in which he played organ and sang. Mayo played with several other local bands and had plans to attend the Juilliard School in New York City.

In 1971, Mayo formed Doc Holliday with Frank Carillo, Tom Arlotta, and Bob Liggio. He then joined Rat Race Choir (1973-74), playing guitar. He then left RRC, was replaced with Mark Hitt and teamed up with Peter Frampton and joined his touring band. Because of this, he appeared on Frampton's album Frampton Comes Alive!. It was on this recording, following Mayo's Fender Rhodes electric piano solo on the song "Do You Feel Like We Do", that Frampton introduced him with the words "Bob Mayo on the keyboards... Bob Mayo!" Mayo also appeared on the Frampton albums I'm in You and Where I Should Be.

In 1980, Mayo left Frampton's band to focus on recording. During this time, he recorded with Joe Walsh and Joe Vitale. Later he joined the touring band for Foreigner and played keyboards on "Waiting for a Girl Like You" and "Break It Up". He spent the next two years touring with Foreigner, and also toured with Dan Fogelberg and Hall & Oates in the late 1980s. He continued to tour with Hall & Oates until 1998.

In 1981, Mayo was asked by Joey Kramer of Aerosmith to play keyboards in his band Renegade, fronted by vocalist Marge Raymond. In 1983, Mayo played keyboards on Aerosmith's first tour in three years, in support of their Rock in a Hard Place album, also adding background vocals.[2][3] Also in 1983, Mayo played in Robert Plant's touring band for The Principle of Moments world tour. The 2007 Rhino re-issue of The Principle of Moments contains three live tracks from that tour.

In 1992, Mayo returned to work with Peter Frampton. The resulting tour turned into the recording of the album "Frampton Comes Alive II". He also appeared on the Live in Detroit CD & DVD as well as Frampton's 2003 recording Now.

On February 23, 2004, Mayo was touring with Frampton in Basel, Switzerland, when he had a heart attack and died.[4] Frampton said regarding him, "Bob was like a brother to me. I have lost a close personal friend and a talented, professional and outstanding musician."[5]

Discography

Peter Frampton

Foreigner

  • 4 (1981)

Joe Walsh

Joe Vitale

Robert Plant

Daryl Hall and John Oates

Robin Trower

Procol Harum

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic performance credits page
  2. ↑ Steve Newton, Aerosmith without Joe Perry: Remembering Rock in a Hard Place. Reprint of interview with Tom Hamilton, January 21, 1983. Georgia Straight, January 20, 2013. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  3. ↑ Aerosmith | Unique, Detailed Biography | MusicMight
  4. ↑ Talevski, Nick (7 April 2010). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 404. ISBN 978-0-85712-117-2.
  5. ↑ Sexton, Paul (February 26, 2004). "Frampton Collaborator Bob Mayo Dies". billboard biz. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
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