Bob Acri

Robert Acri was an American jazz pianist. Acri graduated from Austin High School in Chicago. While at Austin High, he began his career at the NBC Orchestra on the Dave Garroway Radio Show. He was a classically trained pianist, having studied with Rudolph Ganz and Fred Euing. He also studied composition with Dr. Karel Jirak and Bill Russo. During his career, he played in the radio orchestras of NBC and ABC, as well as in the House Band of the Chicago nightclub Mister Kelly's. He toured with Harry James and accompanied Lena Horne, Mike Douglas, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Buddy Rich and Woody Herman. He earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Roosevelt University in his late 70s. He ended his career as the leader of the house band at the Cantina Room of the Continental Plaza Hotel.