10/21/2024
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Robert "Bob" Bender, age 67, of Nashville, TN. After a courageous battle with cancer, Bob went home to his Heavenly Father on October 13th, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born on December 7th 1956, in Bakersfield,CA. His parents Earl and Frenchie Bender proceeded him in death. Bob graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1975, it was in there that he decided to follow his passion for live music. Bob's career took him from Bakersfield to Los Angeles, to San Francisco and finally to the city he loved, Nashville, TN. His career in the music industry spanned nearly 50 years. Bob worked in almost every facet of the industry, culminating in executive positions at Curb Records. His accomplishments include producing over 300 tours, festivals, and concerts throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico and Japan, along with managing and working at multiple record labels. As a Tour Manager, Bob was part of the 1989 Ringo Starr and his All-Star Band tour, along with representing such artists as Billy Preston, Dwight Twilley, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Gene Pitney and Anvil, to name a few. While Manager of Artist Development for Curb Records Bob represented such artists as Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Jo Dee Messina, and Hank Williams, Jr. He oversaw Curb's Christian retail segment helping develop it into a million dollar division which led him to become Curb's Director of Sales.
In 2017 Bob partnered with Tom Sabella to host "The Business Side of Music" Podcast. Bob loved his podcast and grew it into being ranked as one of the Top 7 music industry podcast shows to listen to by Spotify. Bob had over 300,000 listeners in 120 countries around the world. Bob was also producing other podcast shows, including "Between the Notes with Jack Sharkey", "Two Dudes Talk Money and Music" and Grand Ole Opry star Lorrie Morgan's "War Paint", which has been picked up for broadcast television airing on "The Heartland Network". This was Bob's final production credit.
Bob is survived by his wife, Debbie Halle of Nashville, TN. His sister Melissa McDonald and husband Jeff of Huntingdon, TN. His 8 children; Daughter, Erin Fitzwater and her husband Jeff of California, MO., Son, Joshua Schock of Hendersonville, TN., Daughter, Nicole Perez and husband Christopher, Davison, MI., Son, Devon Bender and his fiancee Mandi Altheide of Houston, TX., Son, Caleb Bender, Nashville, TN., Son, Patrick Halle, Bakersfield, CA., Daughter, Katie Berry and husband Cody, Hackettstown, NJ., Daughter Lindsay Halle, Bakersfield, CA. His 13 Grand children, and 1 Great-grandson; Elijah Korenberg, Aidan Korenberg and girlfriend Victoria Mobley, and Danika Korenberg all of California, MO., Cooper Schock, and Cohen Schock of Hendersonville, TN., Avery Perez, Sophia Perez, Logan Perez, and Charlotte Perez all of Davison, MI., Aedan Pennell and Zachariah Bender of Houston, TX., and Piper and Audrey Berry of Hackettstown, NJ. Great-Grandson Waylon of California, MO.
On December 7th, at 11;00am a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Church of the Holy Rosary, 192 Graylynn Drive, Nashville, TN. with interment at Calvary Cemetary, 1001 Lebanon Pike, directly afterwards.
In lieu of flower, please donate to the Music Health Alliance:
https://www.musichealthalliance.com/donate-to-heal-the-music/
