The Coachmen Group:

Bob Campbell

Bass & Vocals

Bob Campbell formed the original Coachmen show band in 1968 and is one of the three original vocalists in the group. He is the older brother of Coachmen member Pete Campbell, and the uncle of pianist and vocalist Chris Campbell. Bob continues to provide the bass vocals for gospel quartet today. Additionally, Bob is a guitarist and songwriter in the group, and handles the group's financial matters.

The son of a carpenter and piano-player, Bob was born and raised in Staunton, VA, and began singing and playing guitar at an early age. A long-time friend of the late Statler Brother, Lew Dewitt, Bob and Lew entered and won their first talent show as children in 1953, singing the country standard Y'all Come. Bob sang with Lew and other childhood friends for several years for events in the local area. In 1964, due to an illness, Bob filled in for Lew and toured with the Statler Brothers as part of the Johnny Cash Show for several months. It was at this point that Bob realized that music would play a vital role in his life. He especially remembers singing for a sold-out audience at Soldier's Field in Chicago. After forming the original Coachmen show band in 1968, Bob remained on with the Coachmen through its later phases until the early 1980's. Subsequently, Bob joined the country music group, Country Connection and played throughout the Shenandoah Valley for many years. In the early nineties, Bob formed the Virginia Junior Opry to provide a forum to showcase young talent throughout the state in a drug and alcohol free environment. The show is headquartered in Clifton Forge, VA. Bob is still the owner and president of the organization today. Also in the early nineties, Bob reunited with the original Coachmen show band through its two-year tenure, which included Bob's oldest son Mickey, a guitarist and vocalist. After a few years focusing on developing the Junior Opry, playing solo at local events, and performing with friends and family throughout the Valley, Bob rejoined forces with the three original Coachmen vocalists to form the gospel quartet as it is known today. While the quartet is his main focus today, Bob continues to perform solo and with the country/gospel band Southern Country on a regular basis. Additionally, he can also be found randomly sitting in with musicians at various local venues, including Staunton's Marino's, a local establishment where friends gather to play music once a month.

Bob's most notable musical influence is his late friend, Statler Brother Lew Dewitt, who wrote the country classic "Flower's on the Wall" in addition to several other classic country songs. Bob remembers when Lew sang the song for him just subsequent to writing the classic. Bob's feedback was that it was the dumbest song he'd ever heard. As music history would show, the song topped the pop and country charts and is still an alternative favorite among younger generations today. It is from Lew that Bob learned the art of songwriting. While Bob has written many songs throughout his life, none are more notable than his submission for the Virginia State Song Competition in the late nineties. His composition appropriately titled "Home Sweet Home Virginia" reached the final stages of the Virginia state song competition. After years of controversy regarding the process for selecting a new state song, the state government subsequently decided to maintain its original state song with a few revisions. However, "Home Sweet Home Virginia" is highly regarded by many throughout the state as the song of choice, and the votes during the competition reflect this public opinion.

Bob is retired from Dupont Corporation in Waynesboro, VA, and now works part-time for Henry Funeral Home in Staunton, VA and for the Staunton City Schools as a substitute teacher. He is married to Wanda Campbell and has three sons, Mickey, Tony, and Tracy. One son, Mickey, is a musician and heads the group Rusted Nails in Richmond, VA. Bob's hobbies include music (and everything related to it) and collecting western movie memorabilia. He is a member of Linden Heights Baptist Church in Staunton, VA.

Other Coachmen:

Pete Campbell • Chris Campbell • John Lane • About The Group