After graduating from college, he was a member of bands led by Les Brown, Louis Bellson, and Harry James.
The job gave him the opportunity to write in several genres: bossa nova with Sérgio Mendes, jazz with Bud Shank, and pop vocal with Vic Dana.
[2] Bob was the piano player on Bobby Vee's #1 hit "Take Good Care Of My Baby" in 1961[4] He worked often in Hollywood as a bandleader, composer, and arranger for TV variety shows, hosted by Dean Martin, Red Skelton, and Andy Williams, and he wrote arrangements for the Tonight Show band led by Doc Severinsen.
His album Magic Time (1984) was the first to be credited to his eighteen-piece big band, the Bob Florence Limited Edition.
[3] With Count Basie With Louie Bellson With Harry James With Lainie Kazan With Sérgio Mendes With Joe Pass With Bud Shank With Si Zentner With Julie Andrews With Sue Raney With Brian Swartz Quartet With Bud Shank With Joanie Sommers