As a gamer with a deep appreciation for the history of comedy and entertainment, I can’t help but be in awe of Bob Booker‘s remarkable career. This man lived an incredible life, full of twists and turns that took him from radio in Miami to the heights of fame with the groundbreaking “The First Family” album.
Veteran writer and producer Bob Booker, famous for creating the widely beloved 1963 comedy album “The First Family” which satirized President John F. Kennedy and garnered a Grammy for album of the year, has passed away at the age of 92.
Booker passed away last Friday at his residence in Tiburon, California, according to his family’s statement. Throughout his remarkable 75-year career, he made significant contributions to the fields of recording, radio, cinema, and television.
Booker collaborated with George Foster in penning the little-known movie “The Phynx” (1970), which follows a rock band on a mission to Albania, rescuing celebrities such as Colonel Sanders and Leo Gorcey of The Bowery Boys who had been abducted by communists.
I was deeply involved in creating and overseeing the production of five thrilling seasons (1987-91) of the syndicated sitcom “Out of This World.” This captivating series featured the talented Donna Pescow, Maureen Flannigan, and a special friend of mine, Burt Reynolds. In an act of kindness, he graciously lent his voice to bring the character of the extraterrestrial father to life on our show.
Booker and his collaborator Earle Doud were responsible for penning and overseeing the production of “The First Family.” This groundbreaking album featured Vaughn Meader’s portrayal of JFK. The record experienced unprecedented success, with sales reaching an impressive 1 million copies per week during its first six weeks on the market, ultimately totaling 7.5 million sales.
Approximately three years after Bob Newhart’s live performance “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” was named Album of the Year at the Grammys, “The First Family” received this distinguished award as well.
Kennedy had a great sense of humor and when someone inquired about the album, he playfully commented, “I gave Mr. Meader’s record a listen. To be honest, I believed it bore a stronger resemblance to Teddy [his youngest brother] than to me.”
Booker, who was born on August 1, 1931, in Jacksonville, Florida, began his broadcasting journey in 1958 at Miami’s WINZ-AM radio station. During his afternoon shift, he had the privilege of speaking with notable personalities such as Jack Benny, Connie Francis, Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt, and Frank Sinatra.
In 1960, he arrived in New York City and struggled to make ends meet. He wrote articles for “Playboy” magazine and created a line of humorous greeting card records as a side hustle. Eventually, his big break came with the success of “The First Family.”
Booker created and recorded sixteen additional comedy albums, such as “When You’re in Love the Whole World Is Jewish” from 1966, which was later adapted into a play directed by Jason Alexander, and “Al Tijuana & His Jewish Brass,” also released in 1966. Additionally, there was “Out of the Closet,” produced in 1977.
Booker was responsible for creating over 400 episodes of television content. Among his many productions were the 1973 NBC Variety Show “Follies,” the cult favorite ABC program “Paul Lynde Halloween Special” from 1976, and ABC’s “Foul-Ups, Bleeps and Blunders” in 1984-85, hosted by Don Rickles and Steve Lawrence. Notably, the last project led to an extensive collection of comedy videos that Booker promoted worldwide for several decades.
In the year 1966, Booker came across Barbara Noonan, an actor-dancer, on a blind date arranged by producer-actor Ike Jones and actress Inger Stevens. The couple got married in a secret ceremony at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 1968. Witnessed by director Arthur Hiller and musician Tiny Tim, they became regular collaborators.
In the closing stages of his life, Booker completed writing his memoirs and remained active on several other tasks, as per his grandfather’s wisdom to “never stop working.”
Besides being married to his loving partner for over five decades, this individual leaves behind his two daughters, Laura and Courtney, as well as his precious grandchildren – Emma, Jack, Lucy, and Charlie.
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2024-07-19 00:55