Bob was born in Chicago in 1918 to Charlie and Jennifer Spiro as a first generation American. He was a cantor for over 50 years, and married for nearly 70 years. He had two sons, Claude and Tom.

He and his wife moved to NYC after WWII during which he was a Captain in the US Army. He was a successful singer and union exec until he retired in the late 1990s. He was well known first for being a consummate professional, and later, to fight for the rights of performers. Singer of stage and studio, and performer’s union executive/