Draft:Robert Bowles Mortimer, Jr.

Robert Bowles Mortimer Jr  ROH-bert MOR ti mur  (Born 16 November 1980) is a licensed mortician, American musician, singer songwriter, innovator and part-time comedian, as well as a community leader and philanthropist. Rob has led and performed with many live acts, but he is most commonly known for the band Good Paper.

Early life and education

Robert Mortimer was born in Belzoni, MS. His Great great Grandfather was Major John Sampson Bowles. His great grandfather was Thornton Eugene Mortimer who was an Attorney, a Politician, and a planter. Thornton Eugene Mortimer made it to the United States Congress. In 1912, Gladstone Byrd Mortimer his grandfather, a WWII Veteran and a planter, was born. Robert Bowles Mortimer Sr. aka “Bob” Father

Licensed Mortician

Rob Mortimer chose to continue working for Mortimer Funeral Home, the business his father purchased in 1978. Mortimer, alongside his younger brother Arthur, own and operate multiple funeral homes, including but not limited to Mortimer Funeral Homes in Greenville and Belzoni, MS, Mortimer National Funeral Home in Grenada, MS, Mortimer - Southern Funeral home, as well as many other business associated with Mortuary work, as well as real estate.

Musician & Songwriter

Rob Mortimer’s discography consists of three recorded albums, Peep, Our Stupid Selves and Lock it Down Tight. This, on top of his eclectic youtube channel prove Mortimer’s talent to be genuine. With James Brown as an ongoing influence, Mortimer’s personality mimics the eccentricity of Tom Waits.

Determined to break into the mainstream, Rob Mortimer landed a short spot on the hit show American Idol, gaining national attention. Mortimer Collaborated with Grammy Award Winner Steve Azar to perform  “Flowers” with the famous Branford Marsalis, who used to play with Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show Band at a set in Greenville, MS. He had the privilege of performing for Jerry Rice at Mugshots Bar & Grill in historic downtown Starkville, MS. Starkville has always been a hotspot for Mortimer, especially his band Good Paper. Mortimer’s musical performances at Mugshots peaked in his mid twenties, and stayed steady until the bar was forced to keep from getting one more citation, so live music was canceled.

Like many great musicians,  Mortimer frequents Clarksdale Morgan Freeman’s club Ground Zero Blues Club. Mortimer was a regular attendant and performer at the world’s most famous juke joint Po’ Monkey’s.

Mortimer has recorded with Emmy award winning producer Norbert Putnam at Delta State University’s Delta Music Institute. He has shared the stage with North Mississippi Allstars on two different occasions. He has also shared the stage with the well known Barry Bays. He has a regular slot at South by Southwest in Austin, TX opening for Ray Wylie Hubbard and also covering his infamous song “Snake Farm”. His cover of Dust My Broom, written by  Howlin’ Wolf native to Clarksdale, MS, proves his versatility as a current artist doing the old art of blues justice. Mortimer was also was a regular attendant and performer at the world’s most famous juke joint Po’ Monkey’s

Actor & Comedian

This article is about the singer and actor. For the actor and acting experience, see “The Duel” starring Woody Harrelson. Mortimer’s comedic stage name is Dr. Hospital. Very little footage of his comedy is actually published.

             

Community Leader

Rob is very active in Greenville as well as Leland, MS, a suburb of Greenville that is home of the Muppet Museum and Kermit the Frog. JIm Henson, born in Greenville and later moving to Leland, found a frog on Deer Creek and named the frog after a friend named Kermit Scott. In the year 2023, Jackson, MS was in a drought. Mortimer in conjunction with the mayor of Greenville, MS  Deion Sanders, who was looking for a practice field with running potable water for his team. As a Mississippi Delta native, Mortimer is also a food connoisseur. Since the Mississippi Delta has some of the best food in the world, he regularly dines at places like Doe’s Eat Place which is on the James Beard Foundation’s “America’s Classics” National Register of Historic Places, as well for performing at events hosted by the Signa’s, the family that owns and operates Doe’s Eat Place

Personal Life

Father and husband, Mortimer is also an avid tennis player and golf player.He is undoubtedly a huge supporter of local music and also loves to travel with his band Good Paper. At one point, Mortimer gifted a custom guitar named “The Shovel” to JJ Grey & Mofro very own legendary JJ Grey, who used it as a prop on one of his concerts. And Like many great musicians,  Mortimer frequents Clarksdale Morgan Freeman’s club Ground Zero Blues Club. His legacy continues to this day.

References

https://www.clarionledger.com/obituaries/jcl106011https://www.mortimerfh.com/about/staff/detail?staffId=6841https://www.robmortimer.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9m3oMlOISgQSEa16uG0D4A