Known for movies

Short Info

FactHe was concerned that the line "I get my thing in action" from his song "Verb" would run foul of network censors. It didn't.


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 NameBob Dorough
ProfessionActor, Singer, Composer, Record producer, Pianist, Songwriter, Music Arranger, 3 Is the Magic Number, Devil May Care, My Hero, Zero
EducationUniversity of North Texas
NationalityAmerican

Accomplishments

MoviesChasers
TV ShowsSchoolhouse Rock!

Social profile links

Facts

#Fact
14th cousin twice removed of Backstreet Boy Howie D. Their common ancestor is James L. Dorough 1736-1813.
2He was concerned that the line "I get my thing in action" from his song "Verb" would run foul of network censors. It didn't.
3When 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.
4Played back-up (keyboards) for Miles Davis.
5Composed 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.
6A 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.
7He is a jazz singer.

Movies

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Man Who Knew Too Little1997writer: "Coming Home Baby" - as Robert Dorough
Get Shorty1995writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
Chasers1994performer: "RIGHT ON MY WAY HOME" / writer: "RIGHT ON MY WAY HOME"
Reality Bites1994writer: "Conjunction Junction" - as Robert Dorough
Mystery Science Theater 30001989TV Series music - 1 episode
Parachute to Paradise1972TV Movie performer: "Parachute to Paradise"
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour1968TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Hollywood Palace1968TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Merv Griffin Show1968TV Series writer - 1 episode
Upper Middle Bogan2014-2016TV Series writer - 11 episodes
House of Lies2014TV Series writer - 1 episode
What to Expect When You're Expecting2012writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
Formula 1: BBC Sport2011TV Series writer - 1 episode
Born to Be Wild2011Documentary short writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
GleeTV Series lyrics - 1 episode, 2010 music - 1 episode, 2010
Secret Diary of a Call Girl2010TV Series writer - 1 episode
An Education2009writer: "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 Sheldon2008Documentary lyrics: "Conjunction Junction" / music: "Conjunction Junction"
Paris2008/Iwriter: "Comin' home baby" - as Robert L. Dorough
You, Me and Dupree2006writer: "Three Is a Magic Number"
The Squid and the Whale2005writer: "Figure 8" - as Robert Dorough
Festival Express2003Documentary writer: "Comin' Home Baby" - as R. Dorough
Calendar Girls2003writer: "Comin' Home Baby" - as Robert L. Dorough
Two Weeks Notice2002writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
Slackers2002writer: "Three is a Magic Number" - as Robert Dorough
The Anniversary Party2001writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
Kissing Jessica Stein2001writer: "Devil May Care"
Detroit Rock City1999performer: "Conjunction Junction" / writer: "Conjunction Junction"
The Iron Giant1999writer: "Comin' Home Baby"
Never Been Kissed1999lyrics: "Three Is a Magic Number" / music: "Three Is a Magic Number"
Dinner and Driving1997performer: "I've Got Just About Everything I Need" / writer: "I've Got Just About Everything I Need", "Comin' Home Baby"

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show2016TV SeriesJames Madison
Drawn Together2005TV SeriesMember - Board of Education
Chasers1994Piano Player / Singer
Schoolhouse Rock!1975-1976TV SeriesThomas Jefferson / Turtle
Have Gun - Will Travel1959TV SeriesCurt Harvey

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Schoolhouse Rock!1973-1974TV Series musical director - 5 episodes

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Fat Chance1981
Drawing Power1980TV Series

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The ABC's of Schoolhouse Rock2014TV Movie thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Jingle Bell Rocks!2013DocumentaryHimself
Almost a Legend2009Documentary shortHimself
Great Performances1994TV SeriesHimself
Parachute to Paradise1972TV MovieHimself

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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