Bob Hardy

Bob Hardy was greatly influenced by the American rock and roll artists he heard on the radio as a kid growing up in 1950's Liverpool, during which time he was a pupil at the Liverpool Institute with George Harrison and Paul McCartney. A few years later, around 1961, he was blown away when a friend of his, Richie Starkey, who played drums with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes and went by the name of  Ringo Starr, gave Bob an album that contained several American blues artists, including Lightnin’ Hopkins. This changed the way he heard music and increased his passion to play. Bob actually began playing during the Skiffle craze in 1958, and after a few years in the British Merchant Navy beginning in 1963, he formed his own bands. Over the years he went on to play at Liverpool's original famous Cavern Club almost 50 times; and later (over the next few decades) throughout the UK and Europe. He formed Juke in 1979, teaming up with Albie Donnelly as 'Supercharge' in 1984 and cutting a live rhythm and blues album at the wedding of Tina Onassis in Paris that is still available, some 35 years later. In 1987 Juke went on to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Ben E King who was enjoying his number one hit record "Stand By Me". When Bob came off the road in 1995 he went on to work at the Montreux Jazz Festival for ten years, during which time he earned his graduate degree in Popular Music Studies at the Liverpool University. He now lives in Portland, Oregon.