Robert “Bootsie” Barnes –an American jazz tenor saxophonist from Philadelphia died in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, at age 82 on April 22, 2020 from COVID-19.
In the 1950s, Barnes played with various musicians in Philadelphia, including Lee Morgan, Philly Joe Jones and Bill Cosby (then a drummer).
During the 1960s, he performed with various organists including Jimmy Smith and Don Patterson, with whom he recorded in 1978. In the 1980s, he toured with Sonny Stitt. He continued to play in his home town and recorded his album “You Leave Me Breathless!” in 1995.
In an article for Patch, Kim Tucker writes… “Barnes has toured the world performing the music he loves, jazz in places like St. Croix US Virgin Islands, to Europe and back home to Philly. From the “Chitlin Circuit” to the infamous New Jersey clubs: Dreamland, Cotton Club, Loretta’s High Hat, Club Harlem. Barnes has taken the stage at Philly’s Blue Note, Just Jazz, Red Carpet, The Showboat and Pep’s too.”