Bob Porter

Who is Bob Porter?

Bob Porter is an American record producer, discographer, writer, and radio presenter. He has been responsible for reissuing many classic blues and jazz recordings, and in 2009 was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

He was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Since the 1960s he has produced over 200 albums of jazz and blues music, first working as reissue producer for Savoy Records, 1975-80, and then Atlantic Records, 1986-91. He has subsequently worked for many other record labels. It has been said that "The result of his painstaking efforts is the restoration of much of the 20th century's most indelible music, now preserved for future generations and sounding better than ever before."

In 1981, he started broadcasting Portraits In Blue, a syndicated radio program covering blues, R&B and soul music which he launched at WBGO in Newark, New Jersey. He received the 1986 W C Handy Award for Keeping the Blues Alive in public radio, as well as many other awards. He has five Grammy nominations, and won in 1980 for his liner notes for The Complete Charlie Parker on Savoy, and in 1986 as Re-issue producer for Atlantic Rhythm & Blues. He is a past member of the nominating committee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has been one of the MCs of the Chicago Blues Festival since 1990.