Bob Cranshaw, top left, with Toots Thielemans in the RCA test film
Bob Cranshaw (1932–2016; real name Melbourne Cranshaw) was a bass player, specializing primarily in jazz, who was part of the original house band on Sesame Street, as formed by Joe Raposo, beginning in 1969. The same year, Cranshaw also appeared in film footage (with Raposo and other Sesame musicians) directed by Jim Henson to demonstrate the sound capabilities of RCA's stereo television. Cranshaw plucked his bass to "Windmills of Your Mind."
Cranshaw was heard in many Sesame albums through the 1990s. On the concept album Big Bird Discovers the Orchestra, he played for the double bass player character, Vernado Vivaldo. Cranshaw also worked with Raposo on The Electric Company and performed on Saturday Night Live, on many albums with Sonny Rollins, and as sideman to the likes of Buddy Rich, Paul Simon, and George Benson.
He passed away from cancer at his Manhattan home, at age 83.
Discography[]
- The Sesame Street Monsters! (1975)
- The Count Counts (1975)
- Bert & Ernie Sing-Along (1975)
- Merry Christmas from Sesame Street (1975; credited as part of the Sesame Street Festival Orchestra)
- Big Bird Leads the Band (1977) - Bass
- Signs! (1977)
- What Time Is It on Sesame Street? (1977)
- Numbers! (1977)
- Let Your Feelings Show! (1977)
- Aren't You Glad You're You? (1977)
- Happy Birthday from Sesame Street (1977)
- Sleepytime Bird (1977)
- Sesame Street Story Time (1978)
- Fair Is Fair (1978)
- Every Body's Record (1979)
- In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record (1980) - Bass on "Share"
- The People in Your Neighborhood (1980)
- Big Bird Discovers the Orchestra (1981)
- Exercise! (1982)
- For the First Time (1982)
- Sesame Street Sing-Along! (1982)
- Born to Add (1983)
- The Gang's All Here (1983)
- Surprise! (1983)
- Elmo's Favorite Sing-Alongs (1993) - Bass
- Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music (2003)
External links[]
- Jazzfoundation.org - Honorary Founder bio
- Discogs.org - Album discography
- Washington Post obituary