As prolific a musician as one man can be, Bobby's life-long dedication to music peaked in the late '90s when he began releasing his own solo albums. Before albums like Smokin', where the Chicago-based artist played nearly every instrument from keyboards to vocals, Bobby had honed his multi-instrument skills during the 1990s with well over a dozen bands. Of his many relationships in the music business, though, it was Bobby's days playing alongside the Ohio Players that most influenced his future work. The group members not only provided priceless tutoring, but also gave him the rare chance to share the stage with them at various shows. Of course, Bobby's efforts culminated in 1997 when he released his first album, Players Never Die. While most independent musicians often fade away after an earnest yet ultimately ill-fated debut release, Bobby never even took a step backwards, returning in 2000 with The Whole Theory, an album that surprised many by featuring a little hip-hop flavor in addition to his usual organic style. Then, in 2001, came Smokin'; this album found him again playing everything from the drums to the organ, while Jerry Soto contributed guitar. That Smokin' displayed, besides Bobby's mastery of numerous instruments, his incredibly diverse style of songwriting is perhaps even more impressive -- he is just as capable of writing a Funkadelic-style jam as a laid-back soul-jazz ballad and can even head into country or classical if the occasion calls for it. ~ Jason Birchmeier