Robert Weast

During his 66 years as a performer, trumpeter Bob Weast has done it all —
playing in a speakeasy at the age of 14, being on the road with big bands in the late 1940s, giving trumpet lessons in Costa Rica!

An emeritus professor of music from Drake, Bob created the university’s first official big band. Among the many students that played in this band during Bob’s teaching career were Dartanyan Brown, Marcia Miget, Frank Tribble, Dick Oatts, Vern Hansen and Mitch Espe. While at Drake, Bob also managed the school’s annual jazz spectacular which brought the bands of Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and Stan Kenton to the community.

Bob’s reputation as a musician, however, reaches far beyond Iowa. He was managing editor for Brass World, has published three pedagogical brass instrument books and organized and played big band benefit concerts in Rio Grande Valley for two Mexican orphanages.