Jazz communities across the District and world are mourning the loss of Robert “Bobby” Felder, a celebrated musician and arts educator who recently died at the age of 95.
“Felder was a prominent jazz musician, educator, and bandleader who has been a central figure in the Washington, D.C. music scene for over 60 years,” the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities (CAH) wrote in a social media tribute to Felder, posted on March 3, extending condolences to the artist’s family and friends. “His contributions range from establishing major jazz archives to mentoring generations of D.C. musicians.”
Born in Tampa, Florida, in 1930, Felder’s affinity for music started at an early age. One of 12 children, a young Felder first began playing a trombone that had once belonged to his brother, who abandoned music to pursue football.
“That’s why I just picked it up. Matter of fact, my first trombone, it’s embarrassing,” Felder reflected in a November 2022 interview with Charvis Campbell of the DC Public Library (DCPL). “I didn’t even have a case.”
Continuing to play the trombone, Felder completed high school in Tampa and then studied music at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating from college, he traveled back to Tampa and became the band director at the junior high school he attended for two years before being drafted for the Korean War (1950-1953).
While this redirection may have initially appeared to suspend his music career, the move instead accelerated and evolved it. His time with the military allowed him to realize one of his greatest musical gifts- his self-proclaimed ability to arrange any music.
“My forte with music…all my success has been arranging,” Felder, who wanted to be a Marine, but joined the Air Force, told DCPL. “I was a musical arranger for a lot of different bands. I could take any CD or LP, and I could listen to it, and write the charts and it would end up sounding just like the records.”
From an Airmen to a Jazz and Blues Virtuoso
Overcoming racist values of the age and with three months of basic training under his belt at Lackland AirForce Base in San Antonio, Texas, Felder wrote some arrangements for the base band school and subsequently became conductor.
This leadership role would open the door for him to join D.C.’s Air Force Band Squadron at Bolling Air Force Base, allowing Felder to perform and travel to places such as Scotland, France and England – a life change that started his career internationally and was the foundation for his success in the District.
“Out of 90 in the band, there were only six Blacks in the band,” Felder recalled.
After being discharged, Felder became the band director at Kelly Miller Junior High School in Northeast D.C. and obtained a master’s degree at Catholic University.
Ten years after starting at Kelly Miller, Felder took on the band director at Roosevelt High School in Northwest D.C., where he continued to build talented young artists and wow audiences.
“I’ll never forget, after the Star-Spangled Banner, I got a standing ovation,” Felder said in the DCPL interview, recalling a time his band at Roosevelt opened for a school assembly.
After a year at Roosevelt, he kicked off his long career in collegiate education, first teaching at DC Teachers College, and then transferring to Federal City College, before starting his 23-year career at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), where he retired in 1992.
“In all my teaching, especially at UDC, all my students still flock to me,” Felder said 30 years after his retirement. “You know, we’re still very, very close friends.”
As he worked to train generations of musicians, he also continued performing: forming Bobby Felder’s Blue Notes; becoming a regular entertainer at nightclubs around the District such as Jimmy Mcfill’s; playing with jazz greats; and even wowing crowds at D.C. churches such as Westminster Presbyterian Church in Southwest and The People’s Congregational United Church of Christ in Northwest.
“Beyond his own playing, he collaborated with every major D.C. icon, from Shirley Horn to Buck Hill and was part of the golden era of the “Black Broadway” (U Street) jazz scene,” CAH wrote, honoring Felder’s legacy. “He will be deeply missed.”
The legendary artist Felder is survived by his wife and son left behind his wife, Lavern and Richard Felder, and his legacy continues through the countless artists he trained, mentored and performed with over the years.
“So [much] great music and musicians are here in D.C.,” Felder said in 2022. “They are my very close friends.”