Draft:Bob Graf
American jazz tenor saxophonist
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Bob Graf (April 16, 1927 – August 27, 1981) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist from St. Louis, Missouri. He recorded for Capitol Records and MGM Records as a member of Woody Herman's Third Herd in 1950–51, and later recorded for Pacific Jazz Records with Chet Baker's big band in 1956 and for Delmark Records in 1958. A disciple of Lester Young's style, he performed alongside Count Basie, Chet Baker, Grant Green, and Gerry Mulligan across a career spanning the postwar jazz era through the 1970s.
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Submission declined on 17 April 2026 by ThatTrainGuy1945 (talk).
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Submission declined on 3 April 2026 by Theroadislong (talk). This draft's references do not show that the person meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion for people. The draft requires multiple published secondary sources that:
Declined by Theroadislong 14 days ago.
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Comment: You can't cite other Wikipedias. 🚂ThatTrainGuy1945 Peep peep! 13:32, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: Early life and death are uncited. Name dropping sources does not establish notabiltiy. 🚂ThatTrainGuy1945 Peep peep! 01:20, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Melmac1 (talk) 18:40, 3 April 2026 (UTC)
Early life
Bob Graf was born on April 16, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Otto and Emily Graf.[1] His father Otto was a German immigrant who shortened the family surname after arriving in the United States.
Career
Count Basie and early national work
Graf came to national attention through trumpeter Clark Terry. In an oral history recorded for the Smithsonian Institution's Jazz Oral History Program, Terry described how Count Basie called him seeking a tenor saxophonist recommendation. Terry put forward two names, describing Graf as "a young caucasian kid named Bob Graf." Basie's reply: "Get the kid."[2] Terry brought Graf into Basie's septet for an engagement at the Brass Rail in Chicago.[3]
While Graf was at the Brass Rail with the Basie group, Carlos Gastel — a representative connected to Woody Herman's organization — attended the club repeatedly and recruited Graf for Herman's band.[4]
Woody Herman and major label recordings
Graf joined Woody Herman's Third Herd in 1950–51, recording for Capitol Records in June 1950 and for MGM Records in January 1951.[5][6] Jazz writer Steve Voce, writing about Herman's Capitol sessions, specifically identified Graf as the featured tenorist on the Capitol track "Sonny Speaks," noting "a track featuring Bill Harris, tenorist Bob Graf and Woody."[7] A 1957 Down Beat item identified Graf as "Bobby Graf, former Woody Herman tenor man,"[8] and a February 1958 issue placed him among musicians associated with "Woody Herman's band, the Lighthouse All-Stars, and Chet Baker."[9]
West Coast work and Pacific Jazz recording
After leaving Herman, Graf worked in California, taking engagements connected to Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars in Hermosa Beach.[10] In October 1956 he recorded with Chet Baker's big band in Los Angeles for Pacific Jazz Records, a session that also featured Bobby Timmons and Phil Urso.[11] An August 1956 Down Beat item described him as having "played in and around St. Louis since he left Woody Herman," while continuing to take outside engagements.[12]
Delmark Records and St. Louis career
In January 1958 Graf recorded the live album At Westminster with local musicians for Delmark Records, the Chicago-based independent label known for documenting Chicago blues and jazz; the album was later reissued on CD (DD-401).[13]
In December 1959 he performed at the Holy Barbarian in St. Louis alongside guitarist Grant Green and organist Sam Lazar.[14]
By 1963, Down Beat reported Graf leading a bossa nova quartet at the Fallen Angel in St. Louis — with Don Hiinak on bass, Frank Walsh on guitar, and John DiMartino on drums — describing him as a "former tenor sax man with Chet Baker and Woody Herman."[15]
In 1981 he recorded You Go to My Head with vocalist Bev Kelly and the Bob Graf Quartet for VGM Records (VGM 0007), working the St. Louis club scene through the final year of his life.[16]
Death
Legacy
Graf was the subject of a feature article in All About Jazz in April 2026, describing him as "a St. Louis tenor voice the world almost missed."[19]
Discography
- At Westminster – Delmark Records, recorded January 1958, reissued on CD 1992 (DD-401)
- You Go to My Head (with Bev Kelly and the Bob Graf Quartet) – VGM Records, 1981 (VGM 0007)
- The Bob Graf Sessions – Delmark Records (compilation)
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