Robert Bennett Bailey

Robert Bennett Bailey (Bob) was born on December 14, 1921 in Salt Lake City to Gerwin Pratt and Bertha Elizabeth Bennett Bailey. He was raised in the Sugar House area and was the oldest of five children. Bob married Margaret Timmins Bailey, his wife of 69 years, on January 8, 1943. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.

Bob began playing the piano at age two and could never remember a time when he could not play. He grew into a gifted musician studying music and composition under J. Spencer Cornwall and at the McCune School of Music. He was a band leader at a local club when he was drafted during World War II. During his military service he played in the Army Band and entertained US troops throughout Germany.

Upon Bob’s completion of military service he and Margaret and their young son Robert Jr. moved to Southern California where Bob worked in the music industry for 34 years. He worked at all the major motion picture and television studios, and performed along side many famous performers including Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Ginger Rogers and many many others. Bob told great stories of his encounters with musicians and entertainers. Bob and Margaret had three more children in while living in California, David, Candace and Matthew.

Bob “retired” from Hollywood and he and Margaret returned to Utah in 1980. However, he never retired from music and played with many Utah musicians at Jazz Festivals all over the world and toured for a time with Alvino Rey.

Bob was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During his 34 years in Southern California he served as the ward and stake organist. After their return to Utah he and Margaret served four LDS missions to Pennsylvania, France, Scotland and Nauvoo. He performed piano concerts in each mission where members and missionaries could bring friends and investigators to hear him play. He composed many original songs and recorded several albums of jazz, sacred music, and original compositions.

Margaret passed away in 2012 and he continued to live on his own until November of 2016 when he moved to Legacy Village. Bob was active right to the end. In fact, he went to a party on the evening of September 27 and passed away in his sleep sometime later that night. He is preceded in death by his wife Margaret, his parents, sisters Margery Bailey and Donna Kaswan, brother Richard Bailey, granddaughter Jennylee Bailey, and great granddaughter Elise Munoa. He is survived by his brother Gerry, sister Dianne, and children, Robert (Sandra), David (Mary), Candace Munoa (Philip), Matthew (Charlotte), 16 grandchildren, and a multitude of great grandchildren.

A viewing will be held Thursday, October 5th, from 6pm to 8pm at Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 N. University Avenue in Provo, Utah. Services will be held at the same location on Friday, October 6th, at 10:30am.