Bob Alexander (1920-2012), also credited as Robert Alexander, was a trombone player who occasionally played on Sesame Street and albums. On the 1981 album Big Bird Discovers the Orchestra, he played one brief trombone spurt for the character Joan, before soloing for Stan on "Trombone Man."
A veteran of the big band era going back to the 1940s, Alexander played with Jimmy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, and Benny Goodman. As a studio musician, he backed Tony Bennett, Perry Como, Teresa Brewer, Frank Sinatra, Eartha Kitt, Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin and Lena Horne. He played behind the The Ray Charles Singers on their 1968 At the Movies album of film songs, and with Bob Haggart on his 1968 album Big Noise from Winnetka.
On TV, Alexander played on The Steve Allen Show under Skitch Henderson, went with Skitch to The Tonight Show, and remained in the band under Doc Severinsen. He also played on The Perry Como Show.
Dominick Gravine was also a trombonist. His recording career spanned the ‘60s and ‘70s. His first recording seems to be Jackie Paris’s 1962 album, The Song is Paris.
In 1969, he appeared on Nina Simone’s To Love Somebody. He also appeared on Donny Hathaway’s 1973 offering, Extension of a Man, and Ramatam’s In April Came the Dawning of the Red Suns, released the same year. In 1974, he performed on Bo Diddley’s Big Bad Bo and Love is the Answer, with Van McCoy & the Soul City Orchestra. He would continue to collaborate with Van McCoy on albums such as The Real McCoy and Rhythms of the World, both released in 1976. America’s bicentennial also found him teaming up with David Ruffin on Everything’s Coming up Love. In 1977, he re-united with Van McCoy on Van McCoy and His Magnificent Movie Machine. His last recording appears to be Frank Sinatra’s 1979 boxed set, Trilogy.