# Royce Campbell

Royce Campbell (born June 7, 1952) is a jazz guitarist from Indiana who was a member of the Henry Mancini orchestra for twenty years.

## Musical career

He was born in North Vernon, Indiana. When he was five, his mother married a career Navy man, and Campbell grew up in cities throughout the U.S. and the world. Exposure to a variety of genres contributed to his musical style. A love for rock and roll marked his first connection with the guitar, at the age of nine, when he discovered Chuck Berry. Like many guitarists of his generation, he was influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.
By the time he finished high school in Spain in the early 1970s, he had decided to pursue a career in music. His uncle, pianist Carroll DeCamp, who had done arrangements for Stan Kenton and Les Elgart, invited him to Indianapolis to live and study. His uncle provided his education in music theory and composition. At 21, he toured with rhythm and blues (R&B) singer Marvin Gaye before spending twenty years as a member of the Henry Mancini orchestra. He held the job until Mancini's death in 1994.
During the 1990s, Campbell recorded more as a leader. In 1993, he produced Project G-5: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery which also featured guitarists Tal Farlow, Jimmy Raney, Herb Ellis, and fellow Hoosier Cal Collins. His 1994 album 6x6 featured guitarists Pat Martino, John Abercrombie, Larry Coryell, Dave Stryker, and Bucky Pizzarelli. On Project G-5: A Tribute to Joe Pass (1999) he combined the talents of Charlie Byrd, Gene Bertoncini, Mundell Lowe, and John Pisano.
In November 2010, Campbell was inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Hall of Fame.

## Discography

| Year | Title | Label |
| 1990 | Nighttime Daydreams | Timeless |
| 1991 | Gentle Breeze [rel. 1994] | Timeless |
| 1992 | Vista | Raised Eyebrow; Sin-Drome (1993) |
| 1993 | Elegy to a Friend | Raised Eyebrow; Moon Cycle (2006) |
| 1993 | A Tribute to Wes Montgomery by Project G-5 | Paddlewheel/King [Japan]; Evidence (1994) |
| 1994 | 6 x 6 (Six by Six: A Jazz Guitar Celebration) | Paddlewheel/King [Japan]; Moon Cycle (2004) |
| 1995 | Make Me Rainbows | Positive Music |
| 1995 | A Tribute to Henry Mancini | Episode; String Jazz (1999) |
| 1998 | Pitapat | A Records/Challenge |
| 1998 | Hands Across the Water (with Adrian Ingram) | String Jazz |
| 1999 | A Tribute to Joe Pass by Project G-5 | Paddlewheel/King [Japan] |
| 1999 | Royce Campbell with Strings | Chase Music |
| 1999 | Remembering Wes (with Mel Rhyne) | Savant |
| 2002 | Trioing | Jardis |
| 2003 | A Tribute to Charlie Byrd (with Gene Bertoncini) | Jardis |
| 2003 | A Jazz Guitar Christmas | Moon Cycle |
| 2005 | Plays for Lovers (with Fred Hersch) | Moon Cycle |
| 2006 | Gypsy Soul | Moon Cycle |
| 2007 | Get Happy | Foxhaven |
| 2007 | A Solo Guitar Christmas | Moon Cycle |
| 2008 | The Art of Chord Solo Guitar | Moon Cycle |
| 2008 | A Jazz Guitar Christmas, Volume II | Moon Cycle |
| 2008 | Trio By Starlight | Philology |
| 2008 | Roses & Wine | Philology |
| 2009 | Solo Wes: A Solo Guitar Tribute to Wes Montgomery | Moon Cycle |
| 2009 | Solo Mancini: A Solo Guitar Tribute to Henry Mancini | Moon Cycle |
| 2009 | All Standards...and a Blues | Philology |
| 2009 | Movie Songs Project (with Phil Woods) | Philology |
| 2010 | Concepts | Moon Cycle |
| 2010 | What is This Thing Called | Philology |
| 2010 | Solo Trane: A Solo Guitar Tribute to John Coltrane | Moon Cycle |
| 2011 | Jazz Blues (compilation) | Moon Cycle |
| 2012 | All Ballads...and a Bossa | Moon Cycle |
| 2012 | The Beginning | Moon Cycle |
| 2015 | Romancing the Tone | Moon Cycle |
| 2017 | Tea for Three (with Hod O'Brien) | Moon Cycle |
| 2018 | Duo (with Bob Bowen) | Moon Cycle |
| 2019 | Organ Trio | Moon Cycle |
| 2023 | Originals | Moon Cycle |