Breaking into Cultural Crossroads: The Art and Impact of Music // Bobby Easton #4251

Born in Long Beach, California, to a U.S. Army colonel and a Korean army nurse, Bobby’s path seemed destined for discipline and structure. Yet from an early age, he was irresistibly drawn to art in all forms. After initially pursuing art in college, he experienced an epiphany: music was the most powerful artistic medium he could imagine. That revelation launched a lifetime of exploration across styles, genres, and continents.

Bobby’s musical education was as diverse as it was immersive—from childhood piano lessons to threading reel-to-reel tapes of his father’s classical, jazz, and world music collections. He absorbed everything: West African drumming, funk, early hip-hop, reggae, punk, and the restless energy of the Southern California counterculture. A single, life-changing listen to Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain convinced him that music had no limits.

In college, Bobby founded the funk band Fiya Bahl, which evolved into Delta Nove—a 7-piece world-funk powerhouse that released 8 records, toured nationally, and earned slots at festivals like High Sierra, Wakarusa, and 10,000 Lakes. Fans came to know Bobby as “Dr. Fuzzy,” a name that stuck through years of shared stages with the likes of Dr. John, Ozomatli, Michael Franti, War, and Burning Spear.

But Bobby’s vision always reached beyond borders. He played for years in steel pan orchestras and immersed himself in Afro-Cuban music and Fela Kuti mixtapes. Ultimately, it was Brazilian music that captured his soul. Extended trips to Rio de Janeiro and Salvador saw him studying not only music but capoeira—absorbing rhythms, traditions, and philosophies. Back in Los Angeles, he helped shape the sound of Brazilian bands like Os Zagueiros, Samba Society, and Moforro, and served as co-musical director of Viver Brasil Afro-Brazilian Dance Company. His Brazilian music journey led to stages from the Hollywood Bowl to Disneyland’s California Adventure and collaborations with Sergio Mendes, Janelle Monáe, Beck, Carlinhos Brown, and Jorge Aragão.

In 2009, Bobby founded the Long Beach Funk Fest—an all-ages, eco-friendly, solar-powered event drawing up to 15,000 annual attendees. With a mission of “Sustaining Our Future Through Funk,” the festival featured legendary acts like George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Mandrill, the Family Stone, Shuggie Otis, and more—while raising money for music education in Long Beach.

As a producer, Bobby has collaborated with giants including George Clinton, Fred Wesley, Ozomatli, Dennis Coffey, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, and members of Red Hot Chili Peppers. He’s recorded, mixed, and performed across an astonishing range of genres—from Afrobeat with Tony Allen to Calypso with Trinidadian legend Calypso Rose at Coachella. His production studio, Fuzzy Sound Lab, is the base for this boundless creative work.

And as an educator for over 25 years, Bobby has shared music with generations—from teaching elementary school classes to lecturing at universities like UCLA, CSUN, and NAU. After directing the band program at St. John Bosco High School, Bobby took on an even more transformative role as director of the Watts Conservatory of Music.

This episode isn’t just for musicians—it’s for anyone who believes that culture, creativity, and community can change lives. Join us as Bobby Easton shares lessons from a career spent breaking boundaries, honoring traditions, and inspiring the next generation of artists.

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