Career
He is a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio band MFSB. A multi-instrumentalist,producer,songwriter and arranger, Bobby Eli"s contributions can be heard on recordings by many artists, including Teddy Pendergrass, The Jacksons, Chris Brown, David Bowie, Jay-Z, Hall and Oates, Patti LaBelle, Elton John, Phyllis Hyman, B.B. King, Billy Paul, Wilson Pickett, George Clinton, The Spinners, The Temptations, The Stylistics, The Trammps, Curtis Mayfield, and Shaggy. He was a regular session player for Gamble & Huff"s Philadelphia International label in the 1970s. His credits as a songwriter include million-selling singles, "Love Won"t Let Maine Wait", by Major Harris (#1 Rhythm & Blues, #5 popular, 1975), which he also produced and arranged.
"Just Don"t Want To Be Lonely" by the Main Ingredient (#8 Rhythm & Blues, #10 popular, 1974).
And Blue Magic"s "Sideshow" (#1 Rhythm & Blues, #8 popular, 1974), as well as "Three Ring Circus" (#5 Rhythm & Blues, #36 popular, 1974) for the same group. He is credited with the success of Jackie Moore"s #1 disco-dance classic, "This Time Baby" and co-wrote the song by Fat Larry"s Band, "Zoom", which climbed to #2 in the United Kingdom charts in 1982.
He has produced two albums for Atlantic Starr, and Rose Royce. And also Deniece Williams" Grammy-nominated album, Love Niecy Style in 2007.
In 2007, Eli helped to unite three of Philly"s most successful lead singers, William Hart of The Delfonics, Ted Mills from Blue Magic, and Russell Thompkins, Junior. of the Stylistics.
The project was billed as the "Legendary Tenors of Soul" and featured the three vocalists alternating leads on mostly soul standards. Eli recruited Hall & Oates to join the soul trio for an original track on the Civil Defense, All The Way From Philadelphia. In 2006, Eli opened his own recording facility, "The Grooveyard", in the Philadelphia suburbs.
He is currently producing his two new discoveries, a 16-year-old blue-eyed soul singer from Boston, Massachusetts, Dennis "Youngblood" Taylor and female singer, Debra Michaels.
He has recently launched his new label, Groove City Entertainment, which will feature releases by Dennis "Youngblood" Taylor, Rainere Martin, Debra Michaels, Jackie Moore, Double Exposure, The Grooveyard Dawgz with more to be announced. Current and recent projects written, produced and arranged by Bobby Eli include recordings with El Debarge, Stevie Wonder and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
He is producing the new Civil Defense for funkmaster George Clinton.