Big Bob Dougherty

Born: December 27, 1908 Leavenworth, KS. Died: September 27, 1982. Jazz / R'n'B tenor, baritone, and alto saxophone player from Leavenworth KS. He formed his first combo in 1933 and struggled to pick up gigs. He joined the Leavenworth police force in 1939 before eventually joining the Navy and being stationed in the Great Lakes, IL, St. Louis, and Honolulu. Returning from the war, he became an active musician around the Kansas City area from the mid-1940s to mid-1960s. He was spotted by a Decca scout at the Piccadilly Club in Green Bay and recorded a session with the label. After failing to get further work with Decca, he recorded a handful of singles with smaller Kansas City labels like Westport, Cardinal, and KCM and took part in sessions by singer Julia Lee. In 1958 he recorded his first sessions with New York record label Golden Crest and in 1961 cut an album with the label. He cut a final single with Kansas City private label Kay in 1962. Later in his life, he became Major of Leavenworth.