Please contact the contributing institution for more information regarding the copyright status of this object.
Description
In this oral history, longtime director of the Tamalpais High School music program Bob Greenwood recounts a life devoted to music and music education within the context of some of the major historical events of the 20th century and against the backdrop of a changing Mill Valley. Born in 1928 in Charles City, Iowa, Bob moved out to California in 1943 when his father got a job working in the Bechtel shipyards, settling originally in Marin City. Bob describes how he started playing music while a student at Tam --- beginning with the double bass --- and joined the local musicians union at the age of 16, gigging around the Bay Area with dance bands. After high school, he continued his musical education at San Francisco State University alongside GIs who had come home from WWII. Bob recounts getting his second teaching job after college back at Tam High, but then in his first year being drafted into the Army and spending 21 months in Korea. After completing his military service, he resumed his teaching position at Tam, where he would exercise a powerful influence on many young musicians, such as Bill Champlin and Rob Moitoza, who would go on to pursue successful musical careers. In this oral history, Bob speaks poignantly about his career teaching music at Tam High, his marriage to his wife Evelyn, and about what music means to him.
Identifier
A54D17D0-1D48-4C66-B4AC-946930387340 2016.037.001
Subject
Angiula, Joe Bands Champlin, Bill Education Greenwood, Evelyn Marsh, Jane Moitoza, Rob Music Music education Musicians Pearl Harbor Pittenger, Mabel (Mrs.) Sons of Champlin Tamalpais High School Teachers The Opposite Six
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
