A solid trombonist with strong technical skills and a warm sound, Bob Havens has primarily been heard in Dixieland settings through the years. A natural musician who came from a musical family, Havens played violin and piano in addition to trombone as a child. He performed locally and came to fame for his work with George Girard (1956-1957) and particularly Al Hirt (1957-1960). Havens became a longtime member of the Lawrence Welk Orchestra in 1960, staying for over two decades and often participating in the #Welk Show's Dixieland segment. That "day job" did not result in his jazz abilities being diluted, however. Havens has been a fixture at Dixieland and mainstream jazz festivals since the '60s, and in the '90s was still very much in his musical prime. Havens recorded as a leader for Southland in 1960 and 1964. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi