Bobby Eli
{{Short description|American songwriter (1946–2023)}}
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{{infobox musical artist
| name = Bobby Eli
| birth_name = Eli Tatarsky
| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|03|02}}
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|08|17|1946|03|02}}
| death_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|arranger|composer|record producer}}
}}
Bobby Eli (born Eli Tatarsky; March 2, 1946 – August 17, 2023) was an American musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio band MFSB.{{cite web|url=http://www.soulfultale.com/b_eli.htm |title=A Soulful Tale Of Two Cities |publisher=Soulfultale.com |access-date=2014-07-29}}
Overview
Bobby Eli was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 2, 1946.{{cite web |title=Bobby Eli |url=http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Bobby%20Eli.html |website=Soul Walking |access-date=18 August 2023}} A multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter and arranger, Eli's contributions can be heard on recordings by many artists, including Teddy Pendergrass, The Jacksons, Chris Brown, David Bowie, Jay-Z, Hall and Oates, Patti LaBelle, Elton John, Phyllis Hyman, B.B. King, Billy Paul, Wilson Pickett, George Clinton, The Spinners, The Temptations, The Stylistics, The Trammps, Curtis Mayfield, The Sapphires and Shaggy. He was a regular session player for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label in the 1970s.
His credits as a songwriter include million-selling singles, "Love Won't Let Me Wait", by Major Harris (#1 R&B, #5 pop, 1975), which he also produced and arranged; "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" by the Main Ingredient (#8 R&B, #10 pop, 1974); and Blue Magic's "Sideshow" (#1 R&B, #8 pop, 1974), as well as "Three Ring Circus" (#5 R&B, #36 pop, 1974) for the same group. He is credited with the success of Jackie Moore's #1 disco-dance classic, "This Time Baby" and co-wrote the song by Fat Larry's Band, "Zoom", which climbed to #2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1982.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16340/fat-larrys-band/|title=FAT LARRY'S BAND |website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=2023-08-18}}
Eli also produced, arranged and performed on hit singles for Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, William "Poogie" Hart of The Delfonics, The Whispers, Regina Belle, Engelbert Humperdinck, The Dells, Isaac Hayes and Sister Sledge.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AXfvmkm-BzEC&q=The+rise+and+fall+of+Philadelphia+soul+Bobby+eli&pg=PA176 |title=A House on Fire : The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul: The Rise and Fall ... - John A. Jackson - Google Books |date=2004-10-15 |isbn=9780195348804 |access-date=2014-07-29|last1=Jackson |first1=John A. |publisher=Oxford University Press }} He produced two albums for Atlantic Starr,{{cite web|url=http://www.rnbhaven.com/artist.php?artistid=155 |title=Welcome rnbhaven.com - BlueHost.com |publisher=Rnbhaven.com |access-date=2014-07-29}} and Rose Royce; and also Deniece Williams' Grammy-nominated album, Love Niecy Style in 2007.
Career
In 1980, Eli collaborated with Len Stark of Melron Records to record a tribute to the families of the Iran hostage crisis hostages. They recorded a single "American Message To The Hostages" which was released on Melron 5040 in 1980.45Cat - [http://www.45cat.com/label/melron Melron - Label Discography]The International Teamster, Volumes 78-80 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=YvIoAQAAMAAJ&q=Melron+Records%225007+F+Street,+Philadelphia%22 Page xxx]The Philadelphia Inquirer, Saturday, December 6, 1980 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/171796524/ Page 2 With song, he seeks air time]
Along with Gerry Gabinelli, and Tony Bongiovi, Eli co-produced Lydia Murdock's recording of the Michael Burton composition, "Love on the Line". It was released in the US in 1984 on Team TRS3006 as a 12" single.Billboard, October 13, 1984 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-10-13.pdf Page 70 Billboard Singles Reviews, Disco / Dance, recommended, LYDIA MURDOCK -Love On The Line; Team TRS3006] It was also released in the UK on released in the UK on WEA YZ17T.James Hamilton's Disco Page - [https://jameshamiltonsdiscopage.com/1984/08/25/august-25-1984-david-lasley-mtume-the-staple-singers-chuck-brown-the-soul-searchers-latoya-jackson/ Odds ‘n’ Bods, Lydia Murdock: ‘Love On The Line’ (WEA YZ17T)] It made it to no. 55 on the Record Mirror UK Disco Top 85 chart in late August.Record Mirror, September 1, 1984 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/84/Record-Mirror-1984-09-01-OCR.pdf Page 29 Record Mirror Disco, 72 55 Love on the Line Lydia Murdock WEA 12in]James Hamilton's Disco Page - [https://jameshamiltonsdiscopage.com/1984/08/25/august-25-1984-david-lasley-mtume-the-staple-singers-chuck-brown-the-soul-searchers-latoya-jackson/ Odds ‘n’ Bods, Disco Top 85 – August 25, 1984, 55 — Love on the Line, Lydia Murdock, WEA 12in] It also got to no. 48 on the Music Week Top Disco & Dance Singles chart in mid September.Music Week, September 15, 1984 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1984/Music-Week-1984-09-15.pdf Page 43 Music Week Disco and dance Top Singles, This Week 48, Last Week 49, Weeks on chart 2]
In 2007, Eli helped to unite three of Philly's most successful lead singers, William Hart of The Delfonics, Ted Mills from Blue Magic, and Russell Thompkins, Jr. of the Stylistics. The project was billed as the "Legendary Tenors of Soul" and featured the three vocalists alternating leads on mostly soul standards. Eli recruited Hall & Oates to join the soul trio for an original track on the CD, All The Way From Philadelphia.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16224486 |title=Legendary 3 Tenors of Soul Revive with Style |website=NPR.org |publisher=NPR |access-date=2014-07-29}}
In 2006, Eli opened his own recording facility, "The Grooveyard",{{cite web |url=http://www.bobbyeli.com |title=The Grooveyard @ Studio E |publisher=Bobbyeli.com |access-date=2014-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517013606/http://bobbyeli.com/ |archive-date=2014-05-17 |url-status=dead }} in the Philadelphia suburbs. He was producing his two new discoveries, a 16-year-old blue-eyed soul singer from Boston, Massachusetts, Dennis "Youngblood" Taylor and female singer, Debra Michaels.
In September 2008 he jointly co wrote (Dixon/Eli/Green), recorded at "The Grooveyard" studio and released with UK song writer/producer Carl Dixon two songs namely 'Soul Recession' by Philly harmony group Double Exposure and 'There I go falling in love again' by Chiquita Green. Chiquita also co wrote these songs with Eli and Dixon. Eli and some other original Salsoul/Philly/TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)/MFSB (Gamble and Huff) session musicians played on this session, including Earl Young, Dennis Harris, T.G. Conway, Jimmie Williams and Rikki Hicks. Jimmie Williams died in October 2016.
In 2016, Eli was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
Other projects
Eli launched his own label, Groove City Entertainment.
Recent{{when|date=September 2022}} projects written, produced and arranged by Bobby Eli include recordings with El Debarge, Stevie Wonder and Red Hot Chili Peppers. He was producing the new CD for funkmaster George Clinton. Eli has contributed as a guitarist, arranger, and member of MFSB to the "A Soulful Tale of Two Cities" album project, which joins artists from Motown and Philadelphia International Records.
Personal life and death
Eli met his future wife Vonnie in 1969.{{cite web | url=https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/music/bobby-eli-obituary-phuladelphia-international-records-mfsb-guitarist-tsop-blue-magic-20230820.html | title=Bobby Eli, guitarist, songwriter, and unsung hero of the Sound of Philadelphia, has died | date=20 August 2023 }}
In 2017, Eli suffered a stroke.
Bobby Eli died in Philadelphia on August 17, 2023, at the age of 77. He was survived by Vonnie.{{cite web |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=Bobby Eli, MFSB Guitarist & Architect Of Philly Soul, Has Died |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2233544/mfsb-guitarist-bobby-eli-an-architect-of-philly-soul-has-died/news/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=18 August 2023 |language=en |date=18 August 2023}}
Discography
Eli played electric guitar on three tracks on Benny Golson's album, Killer Joe (Columbia, 1977)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs artist|Bobby Eli}}
- {{imdb name|2462094}}
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Category:American soul guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:Record producers from Pennsylvania
Category:Songwriters from Pennsylvania
Category:Guitarists from Philadelphia
Category:20th-century American guitarists
Category:20th-century American male musicians