COMING UP: BERNSTEIN, STRAVINSKY, RAVEL & ZWILICH -- March 25-29

Bobby Nesbitt

Bobby Nesbitt

Singer/pianist Bobby Nesbitt is a cabaret artist who specializes in the classic American songbook. Originally from Rochester, NY, Bobby was trained at an early age in classical piano. But Beethoven and Grieg were soon replaced by Berlin and Gershwin as he discovered and concentrated on the masters of 20th Century song.

A resident of Key West, FL , Bobby has performed at all the major resorts on the island. In the mid 80s he moved to Europe and was under contract to Harry’s New York Bar, performing in Berlin and Munich. He returns to Munich on a regular basis, performing at Pusser’s Bar, Germany’s number one cocktail bar.

London audiences first heard him at Jules Bar, Piccadilly, followed by a one year engagement as the first American singer/pianist in the American Bar of the famed Savoy Hotel. He made his New York debut in 1991 as part of the cabaret convention at Town Hall.

In 1996, Bobby was hired for an engagement at the Fairmont, San Francisco’s grand hotel. His two month contract was extended for over two years, as he was happily perched on Nob Hill, performing for San Francisco’s finest. In 2001, he was called back to the newly renovated Fairmont, where he was again in residency for a year.

His first major CD, “Big Time” was released in 2001 and was heard on radio stations across the country to glowing reviews. Delta Airlines featured songs from “Big Time” on their in-flight entertainment for four months. The greatest honor for the CD came in Feb. 2002 when “Big Time” was one of 25 selected by the music director of the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City to be included in the Olympic Games Music Library. It was played at various venues during competitions.

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He has recently written and performed a series of shows focusing on one songwriter per show. A combination lecture and concert, his shows include Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, Irving Berlin and Johnny Mercer. He has done intensive research for these shows, and audiences hear stories about the familiar and beloved songs and look at them in a new light. In 2005, he was awarded the Tennessee Williams Award for outstanding contribution to the Arts.

His cabaret series about the great songwriters has been performed around the world on the luxury cruise lines Regent, Seabourn and Silversea to enthusiastic audiences who love the atmosphere of being at sea and listening to the great American standards.

In 2009 and 2010, Bobby teamed up with noted lecturer David Lowe at the Metropolitan Museum in New York as part of their concert and lecture series, performing Cole Porter, Noel Coward and Rodgers and Hart. He and Mr. Lowe also performed their shows at the National Arts Club in New York City, the Arts Club of Chicago and in Newport, RI at Rosecliff, one of the grand mansions of Newport.

In 2010 Bobby started a new series at the Harry S Truman Little White House in Key West. Set in Harry and Bess’ living room, Bobby performs on Truman’s piano and sings the songs of the Truman era, while giving a history lesson at the same time. Bobby is an entertainer of the old school, no drum machines, tracks, synthesizers. Just piano and voice, performing the songs of the masters of American songwriting.