2011 Bloomfield Federation of Music Hall of Fame Inductee: Bob Norman

Bob Norman started to play the piano at about age 10, but he didn’t do very well and gave that up rather quickly. When he entered high school he tried football, but was too small to make the team. So, he went to the Band Director to see if he could start learning an instrument. He picked the trumpet and never stopped playing. He also took private lessons from him once a week for the rest of his high school days and the High School Band director, who also lead the local American Legion Band, asked Bob to join. He played with them and another band until a year after graduation when he joined the Army. After 3 years in the army he came back to the two bands an resumed playing again on the Baritone Horn. The American Leigon Band soon folded, but the other band was his home band for the next 40 years. He eventually became the Director/Conductor of that band, The Bloomingdale Cornet Band. He was the conductor for 22 years before leaving in 1998. While there he built the band from 18 members to to over 90 members, and for one’s fireman’s parade they had 47 on the street in Wildwood. He also joined the Franklin Community Band, the Gloria Band, Fair Lawn Recreation Band and plays with the American Weldery Band on parades during the summer. After leaving the Bloomingdale Band he move to E flat Tuba, but still plays Baritone on the street. On occasion he’s asked to conduct the Franklin Band, when their conductor is away. This Fall will be his 61st year playing his instruments, Trumpet, Baritone and Tuba.