Bob Malone

Robert Maurice Malone (born as Meloon on December 2, 1965) is an American keyboardist, singer, and songwriter.

He has toured extensively as a solo artist as well as with former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty, and has recorded with such artists as Fogerty, Ringo Starr, and Avril Lavigne.

Malone was born in Irvington, New Jersey, and grew up in the Milton section of Jefferson Township, New Jersey, after being adopted in 1966.

He began playing piano at age 9 and, as a teenager, studied with Ashley Miller, best known for his recordings as the house organist at Radio City Music Hall.

At 14, he was drawn to rock and roll after hearing Billy Joel’s ‘’Scenes from an Italian Restaurant’’ and The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Malone played bassoon in the school orchestra and, while still in middle school, taught himself to play tuba, eventually performing with the high school marching band.

He formed his first band, High Altitude, in his sophomore year of high school, along with friend Paul (Buzz) Burrowes.

After graduating from Jefferson Township High School, he and Burrowes moved to Boston in 1984 to attend Berklee College of Music.

They continued to play gigs in New Jersey, flying home every weekend.

In 1986, Malone was the winner of the Berklee Singer/Songwriter Showcase.

While still at Berklee, Malone formed the band Bob Meloon and the Big Argument with fellow Berklee classmates Phil Antoniades (who later went on to start the company Nimbit) and Gene Shimosato.

Starting with a 1987 debut show at The Channel in Boston, the band developed a following in the city's rock scene and toured the New England rock-club circuit.

The band was noted in the press for having a multi-racial, multinational makeup.

Their 1988 release, First Flash of Success, was favorably received by critics and received airplay around New England.

Songs from the CD won the KISS 108 FM Local Music Spotlight twice and received airplay on Boston rock station WBCN.

In 1989, Bob Meloon & the Big Argument was invited to play the song "Nobody’s Child," which Malone wrote based on his experience being adopted, at the Massachusetts State House for then-governor Michael Dukakis and members of the state legislature for a ceremony commemorating State Adoption Week.

One of the band's final shows before breaking up was a benefit concert in 1990 to raise money for the installation of a recording studio at Malone's alma mater, Jefferson Township High School in New Jersey.

The band broke up in 1990 and Malone moved to Los Angeles that same year.

Around the time Malone moved to Los Angeles, he began performing as Bob Malone.

He moved away from the pop-rock sound of his former band and developed a style that combined blues, New Orleans piano, and singer-songwriter craftsmanship.

He initially supporting himself in bars and restaurants, playing covers and top-40.

He was named to Music Connection’s Best Unsigned Artists list for five years in a row before securing a deal with Criterion Music Publishing in 1992.

It was at Criterion that Malone began his long association with Florida State University Poet in Residence Michael Rothenberg, with whom he has co-written songs that have appeared on three of Malone’s albums.

The two performed live together numerous times, including on the Rockpile on the Road tour with legendary beat poet David Meltzer.

In 1993, Malone joined Freddy Fender’s band for a short tour.

He went on to win the Boston Acoustic Underground Award for best male performer in 1995 and Falcon Ridge Folk Festival New Artist Competition in 1996, and placed as a finalist at Kerrville Folk Festival in 1995 and 1996.

Also during this time, he played his first show with a major act, opening for Boz Scaggs in San Diego before a crowd of 10,000.

In 1996, he released his first solo album, The Darkest Part Of The Night, with Chartmaker Records.

The year 1998 saw the release of Malone's second Chartmaker release, Bob Malone, followed by tour dates opening for the Neville Brothers, Average White Band, Vonda Shepard, The Manhattan Transfer, and Al Green, as well as his first solo tours in Italy and Japan.

Malone spent portions of the year 2000 living in New York City and 2001 living in New Orleans.

By this time, he was touring extensively as a headliner.

His 2001 album, Like It Or Not, enjoyed positive reviews.

In 2002, Malone contributed an essay about life as an independent musician to the book Working Musicians: Defining Moments from the Road, the Studio, and the Stage, published by HarperCollins and featuring contributions by musicians such as Harry Connick Jr., Jerry Garcia, Paul Simon, John Lee Hooker, Keith Richards, Carole King, Randy Newman and Leonard Cohen.

That same year, he opened for Arlo Guthrie.

In 2003, he released his fourth album, the live solo Malone Alone.

Recorded live at concerts in Santa Cruz, California; Boston; Atlanta; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and New Paltz, New York; the album was his first to appear on radio play charts, appearing on the Living Blues and Roots Music Report charts.

The album, which was recorded live in one day with his band at 3rd Encore Studios in Los Angeles, received positive reviews and placement in several critics’ top-10 lists.

Songs from the album were featured on NPR’s Car Talk and Acoustic Café.

After the release of The Darkest Part Of The Night, Malone began to tour as a solo performer, first as an opening act and later as a headliner.

His version of "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" was used in the promotion of the 2018 film The Grinch.