The Guitarist
The six-minute film Bobby created was the result of two specific incidents. At a concert at Eastfield College in Dallas, Texas, playing drums with a pianist, bassist and saxophonist, he was introduced as "the laureate of Dallas" and read a surreal poem of his own to loud applause. He then showed 8x10 photos of his paintings, which received just as much cheering.
Afterward, students lined up for his autograph, and he realized there was real potential in putting his music, painting, and poetry together into one show. In 1989, talking on the phone with guitarist Barney Kessel, he mentioned that both of his parents had recently passed and that he was free to pursue his musical goals in New York. Kessel told him that, to beat the competition, he'd need a gimmick. Bobby said he wanted to wed music, art, and poetry together. Kessel said, "That just might work." So Bobby moved to New York City.
He enrolled in an animation class at the School of Visual Arts and completed all the visuals in six months, then recorded the soundtrack with Grammy-winning pianist Fred Hersch and bassist Michael Formanek. He sent the finished film to a number of television networks. WNET Channel 13, public television in New York, gave him a three-year contract to use it as a filler. At the end of that term, they renewed the license, placing "The Guitarist" in perpetuity.
Licensed by PBS, in perpetuity
On August 23, 1994, Thirteen/WNET — New York's public television station — signed a license agreement with Robert Gary Natanson to broadcast "The Guitarist." At the end of the original term, the license was renewed without limit, and the film has been in the station's rotation ever since.