▁yet ▁his ▁father ▁disc ou rag ed ▁Bob ▁from ▁purs uing ▁a ▁career ▁in ▁music . ▁ ▁He ▁attended ▁Mal den ▁Catholic ▁High ▁School , ▁but ▁left ▁at ▁age ▁ 1 7 ▁to ▁join ▁the ▁Army ▁Air ▁Force ▁as ▁a ▁pilot ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁ ▁While ▁in ▁the ▁military ▁Bach el der ▁formed ▁a ▁band ▁as ▁a ▁drum mer . ▁ ▁B ache le der ▁graduated ▁from ▁Low ell ▁State ▁College ▁with ▁a ▁b ach elor ’ s ▁degree ▁in ▁elementary ▁and ▁music ▁education ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 4 . ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁Upon ▁returning ▁home ▁from ▁military ▁service ▁Bach el der ▁became ▁a ▁professional ▁music ian , ▁switching ▁his ▁primary ▁instrument ▁from ▁drums ▁to ▁piano . ▁ ▁His ▁band ▁began ▁to ▁attract ▁a ▁loyal ▁following ▁beginning ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 0 ▁when ▁he ▁regularly ▁performed ▁at ▁the ▁Com mod ore ▁Ball room ▁in ▁Low ell . ▁ ▁He ▁studied ▁elementary ▁education ▁and ▁music ▁education ▁at ▁Low ell ▁State ▁College , ▁gradu ating ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 4 , ▁and ▁then ▁comm enced ▁his ▁educational ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁music ▁teacher ▁at ▁Newton ▁Public ▁School s . ▁ ▁While ▁in ▁college ▁he ▁developed ▁a ▁decided ▁interest ▁in ▁arr anging . ▁ ▁His ▁band ▁was ▁book ed ▁into ▁several ▁hot els ▁and ▁dance ▁h alls , ▁the ▁most ▁important ▁being ▁the ▁Tot em ▁P ole . ▁ ▁The ▁next ▁year ▁his ▁band ▁became ▁the ▁house ▁band ▁at ▁the ▁Tot em ▁P ole . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁not ▁strictly ▁limited ▁to