George Roberts is a pioneer. As a result of his work with Stan Kenton, Nelson Riddle, and others, Roberts can claim credit for establishing the bass trombone as an integral part of the big band and defining the instrument's role within it. Through solo recordings, Roberts proved the bass trombone was an expressive melodic instrument and raised the bar for bass trombone performance. He stimulated demand for the instrument, and as an educator, he has become an inspiration, mentor, and friend to many.
            Roberts' musical accomplishments have been significant, but another important part of the story is the type of person George is. In my personal experience and in my communication with others, certain qualities consistently emerge: generosity, dedication, enthusiasm for life, and humor. I was fortunate to have lived several blocks away from George during high school, and I studied with him for a few years. I am forever grateful for the experience and friendship I gained through his weekly visits with my family and me.
               I was honored when George agreed to be one of the groomsmen at my wedding to my lovely wife, Allison. The night before the wedding, George and I had a wonderful conversation about life and the future. The next day, as Allison and I left the wedding reception, George gave us two glasses and a bottle of champagne. He told us that when he and Sue got married, they had been given the same items. George advised us to share a quiet moment together and toast the occasion after all the craziness and festivities of the day had subsided. I will always remember the care and thoughtfulness he showed us then.
            When I was working on my dissertation about George's playing a few years ago, I asked several bass trombonists about George's influence. I later wrote others to find out about their personal experiences with George. In response, I received kind words from a number of people for whom I have tremendous respect. I offer my sincere thanks to those who took their valuable time and energy to reply.  Read some of what the individuals had to say.
            On this site you will also find a partial George Roberts discography. Several years ago, I began compiling information pertaining to recordings in which George had taken part. Given the increasing availability of relevant Internet sources during the past few years, I decided it would be more appropriate to make the basic information available to others in the form of an annotated list.