Bob's jazz connection began in 1954 when he took his grandfather's Conn cornet to downtown El Paso's Tri-state Music Company and began lessons. When he joined the school band he quickly moved to first chair and in 1956, shortly after meeting one of his idols, Louis Armstrong, he played his first professional job, leading his own band, "The Stardusters".
By the time Bob graduated from high school (he was Texas All-Region, All-State) he had performed with the likes of Russ Gary and the Ink Spots, Richard Maltby, Rafael Mendez, and the dance orchestras of Bobby Booth, Lew Barton, Vincent King, Mabel Moody, Chuck Bowman and Ed Blystone, and jammed with the likes of Joe Morello, Chico Hamilton, Rick Keiffer and Jaki Byard. Bob also studied with Freddie Guzman of Juarez, Mexico.
During his time as a freshman at the University of North Texas where he was a Jazz major, Bob worked with Marvin Stamm, Dee Barton and John Von Ohlin as well as touring with the Charlie Spivak Orchestra. After moving on to New Mexico State University, Bob had the opportunity to work with Milt Bernhart and Paul Horn and appear at the College Jazz Festival at Notre Dame University with the "Varsitonians". It was during this time that he received an invitation to join the Ralph Marterie Orchestra as the "lead" player and quickly accepted for a short time between classes.
It was also during this time that Bob began his career as a jazz radio announcer and in 1961 "Burnsland" was born and continued as a weekly jazz program on KRWG-FM (streamline online at http://www.krwgfm.org), Las Cruces, New Mexico. Visitors to "Burnsland" for interviews include Count Basie, Herb Ellis, Jack Sheldon, The Four Freshman, Art Pepper, Don Ellis, Randy Van Horne, Gerald Hunter, Steve Recker, Don Goldie, Judy Roberts and Richie Cole.
As a presenter/producer Bob has worked with Count Basie , Poncho Sanchez, Dianne Schuur, Paquito D'Rivera, Slide Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, The Yellowjackets, George Benson, Richie Cole, Brownie McGee, Eddie Harris, Tony Campise, Buddy Morrow and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Woody Herman's Orchestra, "Electrifyin" Eddie Harris and Shelley Manne.
He was the co-founder and producer of the Border Jazz Festival 1982-87 and was show producer of the Texas Jazz Festival in 1988 (broadcast to 2 million listeners on National Public Radio)
Bob has also played trumpet with the Buddy "Night Train" Morrow Orchestra, Pat & Debbie Boone Show, Rita Moreno, and Anacani, as well as the Ice Capades, Southwest Rodeo and the El Paso and Las Cruces Symphony Orchestras.
Since 1975, Bob has been a featured jazz/lead trumpeter and vocalist with the Mike Caranda Orchestra, which he has been leading since 2007. He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild and the American Federation of Musicians, Locals #466, #1000 and #47.
Bob also performed with the Randy Van Horne Singers at the Jazz Bakery, Culver City, California June and August, 2004. Bob's personal photo of Louis Armstrong is now included in the book "Jazz Basics" (Kendall/Hunt Publ.) by Dr. James E. Shearer. Bob presented trumpet great Buddy Childers as the guest artist/headliner at the "Music in the Park" Jazz Festival May, 2003, Las Cruces, New Mexico. He is also a member of the Los Angeles Jazz Institute, the Channel Cities Jazz Club amd founder/president of the Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society.
As a presenter, Bob has produced over 1500 events since 1977 including "Music in the Park" from 1993 - 2004, sponsored by the City of Las Cruces (NM) and included several Jazz Festivals and Big Band Festivals, with as many as 37 events each summer.
Bob is also a published songwriter and member of ASCAP.
BANDS WITH WHOM BOB HAS PLAYED IN LOS
ANGELES
Harry Selvin Orchestra |
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Palace Hot Society
Orchestra |
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The Unfortgettables |
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The Untouchables |
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Diz Mullins and Swing Shift |
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Al Rogers' All-Stars |
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Hux Reid's Melody Makers |
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Sentimental Journey
Orchestra |
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Paramount Sound Band |
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Holiday Jazz Band
(Disney Studios, 1932) |
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Ted Kowalski Combo |
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Randy Van Horne's
Vine St. Irregulars |
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Mike Ley Combo |
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Ron Bartley Band |
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Main Street Jazz Band |
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Channel Cities Jazz Band |
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Swing Express |
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WGN Radio Station Band |
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Reseda HS Thurs. Nite
Reh. Band w/Buddy Childers |
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Bill Davies Orchestra |
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Horace Heidt and his
Musical Knights |
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BANDS WITH WHOM BOB HAS PLAYED,
PERFORMED OR TOURED
Charlie Spivak Orchestra
(1960) |
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Ralph Marterie Orchestra
(1962) |
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Richard Maltby Orchestra
(1958) |
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Buddy Morrow Orchestra
(1976) |
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"jammed" with Joe
Morelo,
Jaki Byard, Chico Hamilton (1959) |
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Pat & Debbie Boone Show
(1977) |
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Rita Moreno Show (1987) |
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Anacani (1978) |
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Paul Horn/Milt Bernhart
(1962) |
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Russ Gary & The
Inkspots (1959) |
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Ice Capades, Chevy Show,
El Paso Rodeo (1958 - 1963) |
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University of North Texas
2:00 Lab Band (1960-61) |
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NMSU Varsitonians (1961-62) |
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Las Cruces Symphony
(1961-62) |
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El Paso Symphony (1958-60) |
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Jack Sheldon-Ross Tompkins
(1985) |
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Featured trumpeter/vocalist
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Mike Caranda Orchestra
(1975 - Present) |
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Featured at "Bob Burns
Night" The
Jazz Club-Nienburg, Germany (1998) |
PEOPLE WITH WHOM BOB HAS CONDUCTED RADIO*
INTERVIEWS
Art Pepper |
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Don Ellis |
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Count Basie |
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Jack Sheldon |
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Four Freshmen |
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Herb Ellis |
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Mose Allison |
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Gerald Hunter |
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Steve Recker |
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Cal Collins |
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Shelly Manne |
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Eddie Harris |
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Randy Van Horne |
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Charlie Rouse |
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Richie Cole |
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Tony Campise |
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Judy Roberts
(This was also
a "Burnsland"
Special on
KCOS-TV,
El Paso |
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Chicago Jazz
Exchange |
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*Award-winning "Burnsland,
radio show (2 hours) heard weekly on public and commercial radio stations
since 1961. Currently heard on KRWG-FM (90.7), since 1989.
PEOPLE WITH WHOM BOB HAS CONDUCTED
INTERVIEWS
WITH, BUT NOT ON RADIO
Louis Armstrong |
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Harry James |
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Stan Kenton |
PEOPLE WITH WHOM BOB HAS WORKED AS A
PRESENTER
Count Basie
(3 times) |
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Poncho Sanchez |
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Woody Herman
Orchestra |
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Tony Compise |
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Eddie Harris |
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Shelley Manne |
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Buddy Rich |
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George Benson |
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Maynard Ferguson |
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Paquito D'Rivera |
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The Yellowjackets |
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Dianne Schuur |
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Paul Winter |
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Tommy Dorsey
Orchestra |
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Butch Thompson |
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FOUNDER/PRODUCER
(now consultant)
BORDER JAZZ FESTIVAL
Chamizal National Memorial
El Paso, Texas
(1982 - 1988)
MEMBER OF:
International Trumpet Guild
El Paso Friends of Jazz Society
Silver City Jazz Society
New Mexico Jazz Workshop
Channel Cities Jazz Club
American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP)
Society of Singers |