Growing up in the rich music environment of Bakersfield California which garnered such legends as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, Bob Bender's love for the music business started early. At the age of 13, Bender formed his first band with junior high school classmate Monty Byrom.

It was in short order though that Bob realized that his passion was not on the stage, but instead behind the scenes. Fresh out of high school, he worked his first concert  in 1977 (Blue Oyster Cult & Black Oak Arkansas) as a production assistant. Within the next several years he went on to produce over 300 shows for such promoters as East West Concerts, Rock N' Chair Presentations, Papa Productions, Avalon Attractions,
and Bill Graham Presents.

In 1980, he was offered his first real gig as a roadie, touring with an unsigned Christian band who were performing during the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The tour was not what he had anticipated though. "The band's manager had failed to book any lodging for the band during our run in Los Angeles" Bender stated. "The closest available hotel room was more than 60 miles from most of our shows. One night we actually had to sleep on top of the band gear in my van when no rooms could be found".

What would have deterred most people continuing on in the business only fed
the flames of Bob's desire to get out on the road more. As fate would have it, a second chance with the opportunity to go out with his old friend Monty Byrom's new band "Billy Satellite" which had recently been signed to Capitol Records. "I was hired on as the stage manager, guitar tech, and truck driver. That short tour was a major learning experience for me, and taught me more than I could have ever imagined". That tour led to other contacts, and soon afforded more projects.

In 1987 while on the road with former Shelter Records recording artist Dwight Twilley, Bob found himself in Nashville on a lengthy layover (actually the tour had run out of money and the crew and bus were stranded in Music City until Dwight's agent could get enough funds together to get them back out to California). It was during this period of time however that Bender fell in love with the mid-south and determined to move his family back to Tennessee.

Between 1986 and 1997, Bob worked on such tours that included Billy Preston, Dwight Twilley, Lisa Lisa & The Cult Jam, Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band, Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Markham & Broadway, A Flock of Seagulls, Mark Lindsay (of Paul Revere & The Raiders) The New Kids On The Block, Gene Pitney, and The Smokin' Armadillos, among many other artists.

It wasn't until 10 years later however in 1997 while on the road with Curb recording act "Smokin' Armadillos" that
he was given the chance to move back
to Tennessee. "I was offered the
position of radio promotions coordinator for their record company initially" Bender indicated, "which in short order turned in to becoming their Manager of Artist Development for Curb". Soon afterwards, Bob found himself on the road with Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Jo Dee Messina, Steve Holy, and Rodney Atkins, working as the label liasion between the artists, radio, the promoters, and the fans. By late 1999, he was handed the reins of the Christian retail division, and became Curb Records Director of Sales.

By 2004 with many of the record labels downsizing, he ventured out once again, providing consulting and radio tour promotions. In 2005, he began working with Michael Martin Murphey, taking over the slot as General Manager of Murphey's label WestFest Records, running it until 2007.

Since 2007, Bob and his team have been providing artist direction, consulting, radio promotions, marketing, press & publicity, along with booking opportunities for their client base.

Bob has also been producing projects in the studio since 2006, working on various artists CD's including Grammy award winning artist Billy Preston with his "Live In New York" CD.

Bob has written the Road Managers handbook "Touring Management 101". He has also served on the CMTA Board of Directors for the Gospel Music Association (GMA), and was one of the founding members on the Board of Directors for the Bakersfield Jazz Festival. He has also been a guest speaker at Belmont University on the music business industry, along with appearing on various music industry related radio talk shows, and as a convention speaker across the country.

For more information, send us a
request on our Contact Us page, call us at 615.306.3214, or e-mail us at bob@bobbenderproductions.com!

1983 -

Billy Satellite / Nightranger Tour
Papa Productions
Rock N' Chair Productions

1984 thru 1986 -

1987 -

Markham & Broadway USA Tour

Dwight Twilley / Greg Kihn USA Tour

Lisa Lisa & The Cult Jam USA Tour

1988 -

Anvil USA Tour

Billy Preston North American Tour

Dwight Twilley USA Tour

1989 -

Anvil USA Tour

Billy Preston North American Tour

Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band North American Tour

1990 -

Edgar Winter / Rick Derringer Canadian Tour

Edgar Winter / Rick Derringer Europe Tour

Billy Preston / Sam Moore / Little Richard Europe Tour

Edgar Winter / Dwight Twilley USA Tour

1991 -

New Kids On The Block USA Tour
(George Lamond, Brenda K. Starr, Biscuit)

1992 -

Mark Lindsay USA Tour

1993 -

A Flock of Seagulls USA Tour

A Flock of Seagulls / EMF Mexico Tour

1994 -

Smokin' Armadillos USA Tour

1995 -

Smokin' Armadillos USA Tour

1996 -

Smokin' Armadillos USA Tour

1997 -

Smokin' Armadillos USA Tour

1997 thru 2004 - (Curb Records)

LeAnn Rimes (USA Tour)

Tim McGraw (USA Tour)
Mgr of Artist Development / Curb Records

Jo Dee Messina (USA Tour)
Mgr of Artist Development / Curb Records

Tamara Walker (Radio Tour)
Mgr of Artist Development / Curb Records

Shane McAnnally (Radio Tour)
Mgr of Artist Development / Curb Records

Trini Triggs (Radio Tour)
Mgr of Artist Development / Curb Records

Steve Holy (Radio Tour)
Mgr of Artist Development / Curb Records

2005 -

Michael Martin Murphey
Radio Promotions

Curt Collins Radio Promotions Tour

2006 -

Michael Martin Murphey
GM of WestFest Records

2007 -

Michael Martin Murphey
GM of WestFest Records

Kim McAbee
Northwest Tour

2008 -

CMT Fall Tour with Jason Aldean, Lady Antelbellum & Eric Durrance

Billy Preston "Live In New York"
album project (Producer)

2009 -

Eric Durrance USA Tour

Inlight Records
Project Director / Sales & Marketing Director