Born in Cherry Hill, Arkansas and raised in Texas, Bob Dorough played clarinet in his high school band and earned a BA in Music from what is now North Texas Univ. Before that, 3 years with a Special Service Army Band had given him loads of experience in playing and arranging. In 1949, he made a bee-line for N. Y. where he took classes at Columbia University, immersed himself in the city"s rapidly evolving jazz scene, and took whatever musical jobs he could land. For 2 years, he toured with Sugar Ray Robinson as the ex-boxer"s musical director and often shared stages with Armstrong, Hines and Basie. Later in Paris, Bob did 5 months as a singing pianist at the Mars Club and began what has proven to be a long musical association with Blossom Dearie.