18 Facts About Bob Stroger

Bob Stroger has worked with many blues musicians, including Eddie King, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Eddie Taylor, Eddy Clearwater, Sunnyland Slim, Louisiana Red, Buster Benton, Homesick James, Mississippi Heat, Snooky Pryor, Odie Payne, Fred Below, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Billy Davenport.

In 2011 and 2013, Stroger was granted a Blues Music Award as Best Blues Bassist.

Bob Stroger was born on a farm outside of Hayti, Missouri.

Bob Stroger's family settled on the West Side, in an apartment in back of Silvio's nightclub.

Bob Stroger was inspired by the sights and sounds from the club.

Bob Stroger was further encouraged to try for a career in music, after being employed driving his brother-in-law to play in a blues band with J B Hutto.

Bob Stroger went on to play jazz with Rufus Forman, but it was his meeting with Eddie King which started his lengthy career playing blues.

Bob Stroger backed King for fifteen years before King relocated, after which Stroger stopped playing for a couple of years.

Bob Stroger's interest was rekindled when he was recommended to Otis Rush, whom he backed in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Bob Stroger toured Europe with Rush and played on two of his albums, Live in Europe and Lost in the Blues.

Bob Stroger worked with Sunnyland Slim and Mississippi Heat in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Bob Stroger then joined Odie Payne in the regular rhythm section for the series of American Blues Folk Festivals.

In 1996, Bob Stroger played on Mark Hummel's album, Heart of Chicago.

In 2007, Stroger recorded Bob Is Back in Town in Chicago, backed by Steve Freund, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Deitra Farr, and Juli Wood.

Bob Stroger played on Willie "Big Eyes" Smith's albums Born in Arkansas and Joined at the Hip.

Bob Stroger was nominated in the same category in 2013.

Bob Stroger won the Best Bassist Award again in 2013.

Bob Stroger was named to the Blues Hall of Fame in 2025.