Bob Chmel, a drummer who over decades in music played with the ghost bands of Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Les and Larry Elgart, and Woody Herman died on June 28th, he was 80 years old. He toured the world as well as the country while keeping his heart in Ohio where he was born.
He also played with Guy Lombardo, Doc Severinsion, and Frank Sinatra Sr., going on to tour and record for Frank Sinatra, Jr. for many years. Chmel had lived in Las Vegas for the last 25 years working on a number of Sinatra-themed projects. He drummed for Bob Anderson’s “One More For The Road” Sinatra retrospective tour and Dave Halston’s “The Sinatra Experience” tour, while frequently appearing with the “The Rat Pack is Back” show on the Vegas Strip.
