guitar - Ukulele - Voice
Ever since Rob got his first guitar when he was 8 years old, a baby blue Stratocaster, his passion for music has remained. In his formal education, he would become involved in choir and band, learning many of the fundamentals of music along the way. He’s worked with vocal coaches such as Aria Johnson, a coach on NBC’s The Voice; as well as local celebrities like Jack Ely, the lead singer and guitarist of The Kingsmen.
Influenced by such legends as Carlos Santana, B.B. King, and Corey Taylor, he began combining the two passions, focusing on becoming a singer/songwriter. Rob has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for several rock, bluegrass, and folk bands such as: No Re-Entry, Big Leagues and Small Dreams, Crucial Tonix, and The Groovers and Shakers; he has recorded several singles and one EP to date.
As a Marine Corps veteran, Rob is no stranger to hard work and dedication. In his service, he would serve as honor guard to several high profile events such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, President Obama’s Inauguration, and a member of the firing parties responsible for the 21 gun salute in funeral processions. He would later become a Scout for 1st LAR in Camp Pendleton.
During this time, he would teach music lessons to wounded warriors with traumatic and life changing injuries and their families; providing a safe and encouraging environment for them to connect and spend time together in a learning environment.
He has worked in the music industry here in Bend, for the past few years as a stagehand, audio crew, and operations manager. Rob has a B.A in communication from Oregon State University and is currently working towards a teaching license and furthering his music studies. Rob has worked with organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and The Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
As an academic, he believes the joy in learning is that it enables teaching; what good is knowledge if the benefit is for you alone?