A CD collection "Schoolhouse Rock Rocks" featured cover versions of his compositions for the series. Artists include Moby, Better Than Ezra, Pavement, Man or Astro-man?, Skee-Lo, Biz Markie and Daniel Johnson.
Bob Dorough was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey on December 12, 1923. His parents, William Dorough and Alice (nee Johnson) Dorough, were both schoolteachers. He had two younger sisters, Dorothy and Nancy. Dorough was educated at the Westtown School, a Quaker boarding school in Pennsylvania, and then at Haverford College, where he studied mathematics. He was a talented musician, and played the piano and clarinet. He also sang in a jazz band.
Dorough’s career began in the early 1950s, when he moved to New York City and began working as a freelance musician. He played with a number of well-known jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, and Dizzy Gillespie. He also worked as a composer and arranger, and wrote songs for Gillespie, Davis, and other artists. In 1954, he wrote the song “Mornin'”, which became a hit for Gillespie.
In 1955, Dorough was hired by ABC to write songs for a new children’s educational program called “Schoolhouse Rock!”. The show was a huge success, and Dorough wrote and sang many of the songs, including “Three Is a Magic Number”, “Conjunction Junction”, and “My Hero, Zero”. He also wrote and sang the theme song for the show.
After “Schoolhouse Rock!” ended in 1985, Dorough continued to work as a musician and composer. He released several solo albums, and wrote songs for films and television shows. He also taught music, and gave workshops and concerts around the world.
Dorough died on April 23, 2018, at the age of 94.
Bob Dorough was a highly respected musician and composer who had a long and successful career. He was best known for his work on the children’s educational program “Schoolhouse Rock!”, for which he wrote and sang many of the songs. He also wrote songs for films and television shows, and released several solo albums. Dorough was a talented musician who played the piano and clarinet, and he also had a beautiful singing voice. He was known for his warm personality and his ability to connect with people of all ages.
General Info
Full Name
Bob Dorough
Profession
Actor, Singer, Composer, Record producer, Pianist, Songwriter, Music Arranger, 3 Is the Magic Number, Devil May Care, My Hero, Zero
4th cousin twice removed of Backstreet Boy Howie D. Their common ancestor is James L. Dorough 1736-1813.
2
He was concerned that the line "I get my thing in action" from his song "Verb" would run foul of network censors. It didn't.
3
When performing in jazz clubs, he will often be questioned by someone who recognizes his voice from the cartoons. Many times, he'll use that opportunity to perform a song he wrote for the "Schoolhouse Rock" series.
4
Played back-up (keyboards) for Miles Davis.
5
Composed and performed a number of songs for the ABC TV eductational project "Schoolhouse Rock". This is a series of short films shown at the end of cartoon shows designed to teach various subjects (multiplication tables, US history, science, grammar, US government functions) in the form of animated films with memorable music and lyrics. The series of films is still remembered (fondly) by those who saw them the first time, and have been re-issued on DVD for new generations to learn and enjoy.
6
A CD collection "Schoolhouse Rock Rocks" featured cover versions of his compositions for the series. Artists include Moby, Better Than Ezra, Pavement, Man or Astro-man?, Skee-Lo, Biz Markie and Daniel Johnson.
7
He is a jazz singer.
Movies
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Man Who Knew Too Little
1997
writer: "Coming Home Baby" - as Robert Dorough
Get Shorty
1995
writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
Chasers
1994
performer: "RIGHT ON MY WAY HOME" / writer: "RIGHT ON MY WAY HOME"
Reality Bites
1994
writer: "Conjunction Junction" - as Robert Dorough
Mystery Science Theater 3000
1989
TV Series music - 1 episode
Parachute to Paradise
1972
TV Movie performer: "Parachute to Paradise"
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
1968
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Hollywood Palace
1968
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Merv Griffin Show
1968
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Upper Middle Bogan
2014-2016
TV Series writer - 11 episodes
House of Lies
2014
TV Series writer - 1 episode
What to Expect When You're Expecting
2012
writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
Formula 1: BBC Sport
2011
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Born to Be Wild
2011
Documentary short writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
Glee
TV Series lyrics - 1 episode, 2010 music - 1 episode, 2010
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
2010
TV Series writer - 1 episode
An Education
2009
writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
Schoolhouse Rock!
TV Series writer - 27 episodes, 1973 - 2009 performer - 23 episodes, 1973 - 2009 lyrics - 1 episode, 1974 music - 1 episode, 1974
Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon