Bob plays the Avenir 20-AC-CR with the SGI NS3 Natural Sound 3 Pickup
Bob McAlpine has been an in-demand session player and “go-to” guitar man on the Toronto music scene with a career spanning decades. His guitar work has been heard on scores of albums, television shows, jingles, and movies, including the Hollywood films Mrs. Winterbourne (1996) and Pixels (2015). He has actively conducted guitar workshops and clinics, and has written guitar columns for Canadian Musician magazine. Bob’s versatility and sight-reading skills have secured him performances with such diverse artists as David Clayton-Thomas (guitar sub 2005-present), Alan Frew (Glass Tiger), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Roger Whittaker (2005 tour), Lawrence Gowan of Styx (Strange Animal/Criminal Mind tour 1985-86, reunion tours 2017-present), The Sugarhill Gang, Rik Emmett (Triumph), Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), Neil Donell (current lead vocalist of Chicago), A Foot In Coldwater, The Canadian Idol House Band, Rich Little, Joan Rivers, Shirley MacLaine, and a host of R&B stars including Ben E. King, Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson, The Chambers Brothers, Freda Payne, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. His theatre credits include the Toronto productions of Come From Away, Hairspray, Hamilton, Kinky Boots, Mean Girls, Rock Of Ages, Grease, Rent (Stratford), Hair, and the Queen musical We Will Rock You, where he subbed for both guitar players and thereby had the honour of playing every Brian May solo and harmony part in the show. Bob also plays bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki, ukulele, and has many years of experience as a songwriter, vocalist and producer.
Amidst all his freelance gigs and session work, Bob has managed to perform regularly with a few notable Toronto based bands: Nightfly (corporate and clubs 1990-2000), Pretzel Logic (10-piece Steely Dan tribute 1993-2021), and Brass Transit (Chicago tribute 2008-2021).
2014 CANADIAN FINGERSTYLE GUITAR CHAMPION:
Bob McAlpine was awarded a first place finish at the 2014 Canadian Guitar Festival, where he was one of 25 competitors from the United States, Canada, Europe, Uruguay, Thailand and New Zealand. He performed 3 songs from his solo acoustic album “Energy Over Distance”, and was chosen as the winner by judges Don Ross, Ed Gerhard, Calum Graham, and Maneli Jamal.
STUDIES:
Bob began playing guitar at age 8, and by age 11 had begun studying with legendary Canadian guitar teacher Tony Bradan. He completed Tony’s guitar course through 6 years of private study, and then went on to become a graduate of the Humber College Music Program in Toronto.