▁serv ic eman ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 3 ▁while ▁in ▁college ▁his ▁band ▁had ▁a ▁national ▁hit ▁with ▁" TV ▁Rh um ba ". ▁His ▁band ▁became ▁the ▁house ▁band ▁of ▁the ▁Tot em ▁P ole ▁Ball room , ▁Boston ' s ▁premier ▁dan cing ▁location , ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 5 , ▁and ▁remained ▁there ▁until ▁the ▁ven ue ▁closed ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 4 . ▁ ▁While ▁leading ▁the ▁band , ▁Bob ▁purs ued ▁studies ▁in ▁education ▁and ▁held ▁several ▁teaching ▁and ▁educational ▁administrative ▁positions , ▁including ▁as ▁Ass istant ▁Super int endent ▁of ▁Mel rose ▁Public ▁School s . ▁He ▁re - formed ▁his ▁big ▁band ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁and ▁continued ▁on ▁a ▁part - time ▁basis ▁for ▁several ▁years , ▁including ▁events ▁tele vised ▁in ▁the ▁Boston ▁area . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁Robert ▁E . ▁Bach el der ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Low ell , ▁Massachusetts ▁on ▁May ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 9 2 5 . ▁ ▁His ▁father , ▁Frank ▁Bach el der , ▁was ▁a ▁United ▁States ▁Secret ▁Service ▁agent ▁who ▁had ▁played ▁drums ▁previously . ▁ ▁His ▁mother , ▁Ger tr ude ▁n ée ▁Re ardon , ▁was ▁a ▁book keeper . ▁ ▁Both ▁of ▁his ▁parents ▁supported ▁Bach el der ' s ▁early ▁interest ▁in ▁music , ▁in ▁particular ▁his ▁mother ▁who ▁played ▁piano . ▁ ▁Bach el der ' s ▁first ▁instrument ▁was ▁drums , ▁like ▁his ▁father ,