Bobby Skelton

Bobby Skel was born Robert D. Skelton in Houston, Texas in the year 1942. Raised in the rural Georgia town of Swainsboro, he started music at the young age of 6 years old, studying the piano under a local piano teacher and at age 8 started playing in the elementary band. After 2 years he was promoted to the high school band playing 3rd chair trumpet at age 10. During the next 7 years was named to the Georgia all state band, playing 1st chair trumpet for 3 consecutive years and finishing school with 12 full scholarships to major southern universities such as University of Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and others. He began writing music while in high school and signed first recording contract at age 17 with Lowery Music, and Master sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. He played with such notables as Jerry Reed , Ray Stevens , Joe South and Ronnie Milsap, at Master Sound Studios. In 1964 signed a writers and recording contract with Major Bill Smith in Ft. Worth, Texas and recorded for the next 5 years at King Recording Studios, in Macon Georgia where also played as a studio musician and produced a number of other artists for Le Bill Music of Ft. Worth. The "Red Ryders" became the studio band for King records. It was during this time that 2 national chart recordings were made by Bobby, Kiss and Run in 1964 and Sheila Ann in 1968. Traveled up the eastern seaboard with his band "Bobby Skel and the Red Ryders" playing go-go's and other major clubs. Bobby recorded and or produced some 35 sessions for Le Bill, MCA, Mercury, King, Jamie Guyden, Fontana, and several other major labels. Works were recorded by Fransois Hardy, Paul and Paula, Bruce Channel, Wayne Cochran, and many other artists both in the USA and abroad. His songs have appeared in several U.S. and international motion pictures. In 1998 his songs were enshrined in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.