♫ Hooking up two boxcars and making them function

♫ Conjunction junction what's your function

- [Bob] That's one of my most popular songs, huh?

Conjunction Junction.

- [Narrator] In 1971, Bob Dorough, oh that's Bob.

- Hi.

- [Narrator] Someone asked him.

- Let's put the multiplication tables to rock music,

and we'll call it Multiplication Rock.

What do ya think?

♫ It's Schoolhouse Rocky

- [Narrator] And so this happened:

Schoolhouse Rock.

And it ran for 64 episodes.

♫ I'm just a bill, yes I'm only a

♫ Three you can see it's a magic number

- [Narrator] The songs were iconic.

And many of them were written and performed by Bob.

(piano music)

- I really can't say exactly how many I wrote

for Schoolhouse Rock, but I'd say about 22 and half.

- [Narrator] But Bob's career isn't limited to

Schoolhouse Rock.

- Nope.

I'm a producer, even an actor.

- Caruso of the south, men, he tried to hang.

- [Man] Shut up Kurt.

- Singer, pianist,

(piano music)

and all-around good guy.

- [Narrator] He played with Miles Davis.

- Deep down he was a sweetheart.

- [Narrator] Bob's been writing and recording music

for over 50 years.

But he agrees that despite all of this.

- I'm probably best known for

the job I did for Schoolhouse Rock.

It was total fun.

When you have a commission, that makes it easier,

than just to say write me a love song.

Okay, well where do I start?

But, you know, put the multiplication tables to music,

and make it interesting.

♫ Three, six, nine, 12, 15, 18

It was easy.

♫ 21, 24, 27, 30

♫ Three, six, nine

♫ 12, 15, 18

♫ 21, 24