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Big Bob Dougherty was a jazz and R'n'B saxophone player born on December 27, 1908, in Leavenworth, Kansas. He played tenor, baritone, and alto saxophones and formed his first combo in 1933, though he initially struggled to secure gigs. In 1939, he joined the Leavenworth police force before enlisting in the Navy, where he was stationed in Great Lakes, Illinois, St. Louis, and Honolulu. After returning from World War II, Dougherty became an active musician in the Kansas City area from the mid-1940s to the mid-1960s. He was discovered by a Decca scout at the Piccadilly Club in Green Bay and recorded a session with the label, but further opportunities with Decca did not materialize. He then recorded several singles with smaller Kansas City labels, including Westport, Cardinal, and KCM, and participated in sessions with singer Julia Lee. In 1958, he began recording with the New York label Golden Crest, releasing an album in 1961. His final single was recorded with the Kansas City private label Kay in 1962. Later in life, he served as the Major of Leavenworth. Dougherty passed away on September 27, 1982.

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