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Robert Marshall (Bobby) Rosengarden (April 23, 1924 - February 27, 2007) was a jazz drummer, percussionist and bandleader. A native of Elgin, Illinois, he was a solid and versatile contributor on countless recording sessions and playing in TV network orchestras and talk-show bands.

Rosengarden began playing drums when he was 12, and later studied at the University of Michigan. After playing drums in Army bands in World War II, he moved to New York City, working in several groups between 1945 and 1948 before becoming a busy studio musician. He played at NBC-TV (1949-1968) and ABC (1969-1974) on The Steve Allen Show, The Ernie Kovacs Show, Sing Along With Mitch, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show Band, and led the band for the The Dick Cavett Show.

Through the years, Rosengarden became a busy studio musician, recording with Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday, Skitch Henderson, Quincy Jones, Gil Evans/Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Benny Goodman, Dick Hyman, Arlo Guthrie, Carmen McRae, Ben E. King, Harry Belafonte, Barbra Streisand, Jimi Hendrix and Tony Bennett, between other significant artists.

In later years, Rosengarden was most often heard as the drummer with a variety of all-star, swing-oriented mainstream groups, including Soprano Summit.

Rosengarden died of Alzheimer's disease in Sarasota, Florida, at the age of 82.

Sources

• All-Music Guide
• Obituary
• The Dead Rock Stars Club
• Tribute to Bobby Rosengarden - an unofficial site detailing Bobby's discography and career highlights