{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bob Bertles | occupation = Musician (as instrumentalist, bandleader) | instrument = {{hlist|Alto saxophone|tenor saxophone|baritone saxophone}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1939|3|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|30|1939|3|6|df=y}} | death_place = | associated_acts = {{bulleted|Bob Bertles Quintet|Johnny O'Keefe (toured with)|Max Merritt and the Meteors|Nucleus|Ten Part Invention}} | spouse = Nancye Hayes }}

'''Bob Bertles''' (6 March 1939 – 30 December 2024) was an Australian jazz alto, tenor and baritone saxophonist and bandleader.

==Life and career== Bertles was born in Melbourne on 6 March 1939.<ref name="obit">{{cite news |title=Australian jazz musician Bob Bertles breathes his last at 85 |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1267541-bob-bertles-breathes-his-last-at-85 |access-date=1 January 2025 |publisher=The International News |date=1 January 2025}}</ref> A self-taught musician, Bertles in the late 1950s and early 60s was a member of the developing modern jazz scene that grew out of venues like the Mocambo in Newtown and the El Rocco Jazz Cellar in Sydney's Kings Cross.<ref name="Age">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b3czAAAAIBAJ&sjid=65IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5978,5125690&dq=bob-bertles&hl=en|title=Seat-of-the-pants advocate|date=18 April 1986|newspaper=The Age|accessdate=22 January 2010}}</ref>

Active in clubs, on TV, as a session musician and on the pop-rock scene, he toured with Johnny O'Keefe.<ref name="SMH">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/cd--gig-reviews/bob-bertles-quintet/2005/11/11/1131578208022.html|title=Bob Bertles Quintet|date=11 November 2005|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=22 January 2010}}</ref>

In 1967 Bertles temporarily joined Sydney-based rock-soul band Max Merritt & The Meteors.<ref name="Age"/> Only weeks after joining, Bertles, Merritt and drummer Stewie Speer narrowly escaped death after their van collided head-on with a truck on the way to a country dance; all three were seriously injured and Bertles was left with a permanent limp.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milesago.com/artists/merritt.htm|title=Max Merritt & the Meteors|accessdate=22 January 2010}}</ref> In 1974, after the group split, Bertles joined Ian Carr's Nucleus.<ref name="SMH"/>

In later years Bertles toured Europe extensively, joined the orchestra for the Australian production of the stage musical ''Chicago'', where he met his future wife, theatre performer Nancye Hayes.<ref name="SMH"/>

In addition to regular concerts, festivals, session work, and touring, Bertles' later projects included recording and live performances with Sydney's renowned Ten Part Invention.<ref name="SMH"/>

Bertles died on 30 December 2024, at the age of 85.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cashmere |first1=Paul |title=Australian Jazz Musician Bob Bertles Dies Aged 85 |url=https://www.noise11.com/news/australian-jazz-musician-bob-bertles-dies-aged-85-20250101 |access-date=1 January 2025 |publisher=Noise 11 |date=1 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="obit"/>

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected details ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row" | ''Rhythm of the Heart'' | * Released: 1995 * Format: CD * Label: Rufus Records (RF017) |- ! scope="row" | ''Cool Beans'' | * Released: 1998 * Format: CD * Label: Rufus Records (RF038) |}

==Awards and nominations== ===ARIA Music Awards=== The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. {{awards table}} ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 1996 | ''Rhythm of the Heart'' | Best Jazz Album | {{nom}} | <ref name="JazzAlbum">ARIA Award previous winners. {{cite web|url=https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/best-jazz-album?view=list#|title=ARIA Awards Best Jazz Album|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref> |- {{end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Discogs artist|Bob Bertles}} * {{Imdb name|14637412}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bertles, Bob}} Category:1939 births Category:2024 deaths Category:Australian jazz saxophonists Category:Male saxophonists Category:Jazz tenor saxophonists Category:Nucleus (band) members Category:21st-century Australian saxophonists Category:21st-century Australian male musicians Category:21st-century Australian musicians Category:Australian male jazz musicians Category:Musicians from Melbourne