Dean Hubbard

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Dean W. Hubbard (July 21, 1953 – March 11, 2018) was an American trombonist and teacher from Oakland, California. He started playing trombone in middle school and grew up in a musical family. His career lasted more than 50 years, and he played with many famous artists and recorded jingles for brands.

Hubbard performed with Perry Como, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, Peggy Lee, Aaron Neville, Buddy Morrow, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Strummer, Carol Channing, and others. He also contributed to Linda Ronstadt’s albums Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind, which earned Gold and Platinum records. He was a lifetime member of the San Francisco Musicians Union and a respected teacher.

One of his most lasting contributions was his work on The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show and other Peanuts specials from the mid-1970s to the 1990s. He created the characteristic “wah-wah” voice for Miss Othmar, the teacher in the cartoons. Hubbard also performed with the San Francisco Orchestra and on stage in San Francisco theater productions, including Teatro Zinzanni. He played on Garfield and Friends during its first seasons before the show moved to synthesized music. He was a Master Artist and Conn-Selmer Clinician, sharing his knowledge with young students and other players.

He was married to Constance Hubbard, who also played trombone in her youth and later worked in school administration. Hubbard inspired many musicians, including Alan Ferber, who credits him with helping shape his own career and love of music education.