Quarters

I have always wanted to meet my Great-Grandfather. From the time I was born, I became fascinated with the man playing the trumpet in multiple pictures throughout my home. As I got older, I began to research more into the music that made Bob Effros the man he was. I can understand more about who my great grandfather was through the recordings he made within his lifetime.

Several years ago, I was visited by my Great-Grandfather in a dream. He had come to visit me in my sleep to show me a magic trick with quarters. The man appeared in a pin-stripe corduroy brown suit with a quarter in his palm. My Great Grandpa showed me how to make a two faced quarter look as though it only has one side. I'll explain the trick aspect of it all at a later point in this blog. 

When I awoke, I grabbed a quarter from my bedside and ran into the kitchen. The last thing I wanted was to forget how to do the magic trick. I approached my mother and immediately showed her what Grandpa Bob had taught me in my dream. My mother's face filled with joy and surprise as she told me that was the same magic trick Bob had showed her when she was a kid. 

I do not share this story to promote a belief in ghosts or the supernatural. This not a depiction of some special phenomena or spirituality. Instead, I share this story because it sparked a connection between my Great-Grandfather and I. The magic lives on throughout his music and that is why we want to share his legacy with the world.

Future Posts : Famous Musicians and Bands - music links, stories & interviews

"The Memory of this Dance"
Composers: Bob Effros - Ben Selvin

Anyone Can See With Half An Eye That I'm Crazy Over You"

Orchestra   Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Dorsey – Sam Lanin & His Famous Players*Trumpet – Bob Effros

from the Bing Crosby Collection

This blog was put together by Barbara Effros, (the granddaughter of Bob Effros), and myself, Bob's great grandson. As a family, we have always been interested in Bob's music. Whether it be his trumpet playing on the beginning and end of the "Looney Tunes" credits or his work with Bing Crosby, Bob's music continues to remain timeless. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.                                                                                                      - Jonathan Schwartz *Above is a song Bob recorded as a part of the Vincent Lopez Orchestra in 1926

A Brief Biography of Bob Effros

Robert "Bob" Effros was born December 6th, 1900 in London, England. At the age of three, his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Moving to the South was important to the foundations of Jazz trumpet playing that would influence Bob throughout his illustrious career as a musician. Bob ran away from home at age eleven and getting job on a Mississippi river boat. On the river boat he learned to play the coronet leading him to his true love; the trumpet. His course of trumpet playing began by following the leads of "King Oliver".


Between 1917 and 1919, Bob served as a bugler in the United States Army. After the war ended, Bob settled down in Baltimore playing under big band leader Bea Palmer.Throughout the 20's, Bob played the trumpet as a member of the Vincent Lopez Orchestra. The trumpeter flourished in this environment which lead him to write several hit songs such as: "Why The Twenties Roared", "Tin Ear" "Cornfed" and "Why Don't You Get Lost?" Much of Bob's success can be attributed to the songwriting he did for recording artists such as Fletcher Henderson, Red Nichols & Ben Selvin. Bob returned to England to play shows with beautiful and popular singer, Annette Hanshaw.


The Vincent Lopez Orchestra toured Europe extensively. The most infamous trip being in 1925 on the Ship Leviathan. By 1929, Bob decided he wanted to stay in the States for the remainder of his career to start a family. The Vitaphone label hired Effros as a house musician where he joined a group of up-and-coming performers including banjo player Harry Reser. Within a ten year period Bob Effros appeared on more than 125 different recordings. By 1929, Bob was leading his own orchestra and churning out hits such as "Sweet and Hot", an ode to Chinese soup. Bob was a staple in the studios through the 40's and made a home for himself in Queens, NY. It was here that he met his wife Selma Sternick. They had two sons, George and Alan Effros.