| Revision as of 15:27, 29 April 2009 editDjheavycee (talk | contribs)1 edit →References← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 20:48, 21 January 2025 edit undoDerek R Bullamore (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers341,851 editsm →Life and career | ||
| (94 intermediate revisions by 64 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Short description|American musician and bandleader (1940–2025)}} | |||
| {{BLP unsourced|date=December 2007}} | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} | |||
| {{Sources|date=January 2025}} | |||
| {{Infobox musical artist | |||
| | name = Bob Kuban | |||
| | image = | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | occupation = {{hlist|]|bandleader}} | |||
| | instrument = Drummer | |||
| | birth_name = Robert Kuban | |||
| | birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1940|8|19}} | |||
| ⚫ | | birth_place = ], U.S. | ||
| | death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2025|01|20|1940|8|19}} | |||
| | death_place = | |||
| | genre = {{hlist|]|]|]}} | |||
| | alias = | |||
| | years_active = 1963–2025 | |||
| | website = | |||
| | associated_acts = {{hlist|]|]|Bob Kuban Brass Band}} | |||
| | label = ], Classic Music Int'l | |||
| ⚫ | }} | ||
| '''Robert Kuban''' (August 19, 1940 – January 20, 2025) was an American musician and bandleader. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ==Life and career== | |||
| Kuban was born in ], ], and graduated from the St. Louis Institute of Music. In 1964, he formed the group Bob Kuban and The In-Men. Kuban was both ] and bandleader. The group was an eight-piece ] with horns, somewhat of a throwback for the time, considering that the ] was taking place during that period. | |||
| Kuban was born in ], ], United States on August 19, 1940.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=]|editor=]|publisher=]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1409}}</ref><ref name="FamSearch">{{cite web|url=https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?givenname=Bob&surname=Kuban&count=20|title=Birth record search results for Bob Kuban|work=FamilySearch.org|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref> He graduated from the St. Louis Institute of Music. In the early 1960s, Kuban was a music teacher and band director at ], a Catholic secondary school in St. Louis. | |||
| In 1964, he formed the group Bob Kuban and The In-Men.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Kuban was both its drummer and the bandleader.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> The group was an eight-piece band with horns.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Kuban was heavily influenced by ], whom he would watch perform at ] in St. Louis before his band became regulars. He said, "I just loved the band so much... I mimicked a lot of the stuff that they did. We had the horn section in my band. When Ike and Tina Turner left, we were able to play there. We were there on Tuesday nights."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/demolition-denied-future-of-club-imperial-remains-in-limbo/63-510628709|title=Demolition denied: Future of Club Imperial remains in limbo|last=Holliday|first=Art|date=January 23, 2018|website=ksdk}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | After "The Cheater," Kuban never scored high on the pop ] |
||
| ⚫ | He is best known for his 1966 No. 12 pop ], "]".<ref name="LarkinGE"/> For this hit single Kuban is honored in the ]'s permanent exhibit on ]s. | ||
| In an odd twist, ], frontman for The In-Men and ] of "The Cheater" (whose ] speak of the downfall of an unfaithful lover), was murdered in 1983 by his wife's lover, with his wife's collusion. | |||
| ⚫ | After "The Cheater," Kuban never again scored high on the pop ], although he did have two other top 100 hits: "The Teaser" peaked at No. 70; and a remake of the ] song "]" went to No. 93.<ref name="LarkinGE"/>In Canada the second single, "The Teaser", reached number 65.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5753.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - May 23, 1966}}</ref> Kuban continued to be a fixture on the St. Louis music scene, and still toured and performed at private parties. Bob Kuban and The In-Men performed for the opening ceremonies of ] in St. Louis on May 12, 1966; and The Bob Kuban Brass performed before the last regular-season ] game there on October 2, 2005. | ||
| In the 1960s, a spin-off of the group was a band called The Guise, led by In-Men organist and songwriter Greg Hoeltzel. The Guise performed in the 1969 St. Louis premiere of a composition by classical composer Arthur Custer and jazz composer ] titled "Songs of Freedom, Love, and War."<ref>Benjamin Looker, ''"Point from Which Creation Begins:" The Black Artists' Group of St. Louis'' (St. Louis: Missouri Historical Society Press, 2004), pp. 176–177.</ref> | |||
| Kuban died from a stroke on January 20, 2025, at the age of 84.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis Classic Rock: "Bob Kuban Death Notice – Family Statement" |url=https://stlouisclassicrock.com/bob_kuban/ |access-date=January 20, 2025 |website=St. Louis Classic Rock}}</ref> | |||
| Gerald Vandiver filled in several times with BK and the In-Men on guitar in the St. Louis area when the band played at the Godfrey Civic Center and the Collinsville park ballroom | |||
| ==Death of Walter Scott== | |||
| {{Persondata | |||
| {{More|Walter Scott (singer)}} | |||
| |NAME=Kuban, Bob | |||
| In a tragic coincidence, ], who was the front man for The In-Men and the lead singer of "The Cheater", a song whose ] speak of infidelity,<ref name="LarkinGE"/> was murdered in 1983 by his wife's lover in a case that did not come to light until 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/stcharles/man-who-murdered-st-louis-singer-dies-in-prison/article_142a7f38-dd8b-11e0-b912-0019bb30f31a.html|title=Man who murdered St. Louis singer dies in prison|first=Shane|last=Anthony|website=STLtoday.com|date=September 13, 2011 }}</ref> Scott's wife eventually admitted to helping conceal Scott's death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2010/03/song-cheater.html|title=Imitation of Life: Bob Kuban & the In-Men's The Cheater|website=Criticsatlarge.ca}}</ref> | |||
| |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= | |||
| |SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bandleader | |||
| |DATE OF BIRTH= | |||
| ⚫ | | |
||
| |DATE OF DEATH= | |||
| |PLACE OF DEATH= | |||
| ⚫ | }} | ||
| ⚫ | {{DEFAULTSORT:Kuban, Bob}} | ||
| == Charted singles == | |||
| * "]" - 1965 (] #12) | |||
| * "The Teaser" - 1966 (] #70) | |||
| * "Drive My Car" - 1966 (] #93) | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{ |
{{Reflist}} | ||
| ==External links== | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| * {{discogs artist|Bob Kuban}} | |||
| * {{imdb name|8367420}} | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| ⚫ | {{DEFAULTSORT:Kuban, Bob}} | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The story of Bob Kuban regarding his death was discussed on an HBO program called AUTOPSY. Where his body was dicovered in a well, which was later changed to a planter in his wife's yard | |||
Latest revision as of 20:48, 21 January 2025
American musician and bandleader (1940–2025)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Bob Kuban" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Bob Kuban | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Kuban |
| Born | (1940-08-19)August 19, 1940 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | January 20, 2025(2025-01-20) (aged 84) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Drummer |
| Years active | 1963–2025 |
| Labels | Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Classic Music Int'l |
Robert Kuban (August 19, 1940 – January 20, 2025) was an American musician and bandleader.
Life and career
Kuban was born in St. Louis, Missouri, United States on August 19, 1940. He graduated from the St. Louis Institute of Music. In the early 1960s, Kuban was a music teacher and band director at Bishop DuBourg High School, a Catholic secondary school in St. Louis.
In 1964, he formed the group Bob Kuban and The In-Men. Kuban was both its drummer and the bandleader. The group was an eight-piece band with horns. Kuban was heavily influenced by Ike & Tina Turner, whom he would watch perform at Club Imperial in St. Louis before his band became regulars. He said, "I just loved the band so much... I mimicked a lot of the stuff that they did. We had the horn section in my band. When Ike and Tina Turner left, we were able to play there. We were there on Tuesday nights."
He is best known for his 1966 No. 12 pop hit, "The Cheater". For this hit single Kuban is honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's permanent exhibit on one-hit wonders. After "The Cheater," Kuban never again scored high on the pop charts, although he did have two other top 100 hits: "The Teaser" peaked at No. 70; and a remake of the Lennon–McCartney song "Drive My Car" went to No. 93.In Canada the second single, "The Teaser", reached number 65. Kuban continued to be a fixture on the St. Louis music scene, and still toured and performed at private parties. Bob Kuban and The In-Men performed for the opening ceremonies of Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis on May 12, 1966; and The Bob Kuban Brass performed before the last regular-season baseball game there on October 2, 2005.
In the 1960s, a spin-off of the group was a band called The Guise, led by In-Men organist and songwriter Greg Hoeltzel. The Guise performed in the 1969 St. Louis premiere of a composition by classical composer Arthur Custer and jazz composer Julius Hemphill titled "Songs of Freedom, Love, and War."
Kuban died from a stroke on January 20, 2025, at the age of 84.
Death of Walter Scott
Further information: Walter Scott (singer)In a tragic coincidence, Walter Scott, who was the front man for The In-Men and the lead singer of "The Cheater", a song whose lyrics speak of infidelity, was murdered in 1983 by his wife's lover in a case that did not come to light until 1987. Scott's wife eventually admitted to helping conceal Scott's death.
Charted singles
- "The Cheater" - 1965 (US #12)
- "The Teaser" - 1966 (US #70)
- "Drive My Car" - 1966 (US #93)
References
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1409. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- "Birth record search results for Bob Kuban". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- Holliday, Art (January 23, 2018). "Demolition denied: Future of Club Imperial remains in limbo". ksdk.
- "RPM Top 100 Singles - May 23, 1966" (PDF).
- Benjamin Looker, "Point from Which Creation Begins:" The Black Artists' Group of St. Louis (St. Louis: Missouri Historical Society Press, 2004), pp. 176–177.
- "St. Louis Classic Rock: "Bob Kuban Death Notice – Family Statement"". St. Louis Classic Rock. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
- Anthony, Shane (September 13, 2011). "Man who murdered St. Louis singer dies in prison". STLtoday.com.
- "Imitation of Life: Bob Kuban & the In-Men's The Cheater". Criticsatlarge.ca.