Special
thanks to those who endured my crazy ways over the years: Mum, Dad, Paul, Helen, Ian,
Michael, Emma, Simon, Rhian & Rhys, Rick & Amanda, and the Westovers. Cheers--I
Love You!
Extra special Thanks to those whom allowed me the time for all this gallivanting: LuAnn,
Kelly, Nicholas, and Samantha....I Love You All So Much!
Thanks to the good friends and musicians I have had the privilege of knowing over the
years... Paul Fuller, Steve Haywood, Mick Fagan, Graham Utley, Elgy and Sprock, Colin
Crawford, Phil Crawford, Peter Noble, Mark Gillespie, Kevin McCarthy, Mark Thurston, Nick
Nofi, Austin, Joey and Tori, Trace & Willie, John Lawrence, John Schreiber, Dave Rae,
the late Jamie Rae and the late John Jelleman, George Graham, Mark Smith, Butch, Paul
Carmen, Mike Brewer, Tim Gable, the Willow Street Gang, George and the Chemite Crew, the
good folks down Center Street, Pat & Wil at Vintage Emporium, Yale's Music, and Scott
& Judy Bunt...
Thanks most of all to GOD for giving us the breath of life, the gift of music, and his
ultimate masterpiece we call planet Earth...
PEACE!
Rob
At long last I am happy to put out an album of some of the songs I have written over
the last 10 years or so.
It's been an age since I marveled at the great bands that passed through Cambridge
during the 1979, '80, '81 period in England. Regular trips to the "Corn
Exchange" and on the train to London to "The Rainbow", "Lyceum"
and "Marquee" to see the UK Subs, Ruts, Clash Angelic Upstarts, Undertones,
Stiff Little Fingers, etc... inspiring me to form my first band at age 16, a three piece
called "Rat Race Rockers," a name given to me by UK Subs guitarist Nicky Garrett
as he singed my "Brand New Age" album. The next band "Dead and Buried"
teamed me up with guitarist Colin Crawford--we now had the core of what was to be the band
that brought me the most success, "Sancho Panzer," formed in or around 1983,
after a few changes of rhythm section--teamed up with American Tom Gable on drums. It was
he that was to bring me to the states in 1985.
After moderate success in and around the Southern Tier (New York State), the
"Panzers" re-located to Providence, RI, experiencing a turbulent 6 months that
saw me get married and Colin return to England. Back to Waverly, NY-- teaming with Tom
once again and a bass player named Sean Reap, "The Essence" was born. After
that, an acoustic duet with Irish musician Pat Kane-together forming " The
Skylarx." Next, it was a Classic Rock band "The Fourfathers" (with Tom and
Sean again). Then a brief but happy stint with Deadheads "Dire Wolf," followed
by traditional show band "West O'Clare," which I still enjoy performing with
today.
Throughout this musical adventure, I have written many songs... here now is a selection
of a few of them. For you fans of Irish music, you may recognize a few familiar tunes in
there somewhere, for your interest:
The hornpipe in "Mr. Melancholy" is "Boys of Blue Hill"
The slow air in "Rhythm of the Universe is "I Once Loved a Lass"
Marvel at Brian's rendition of the "Sligo Maid"
reel in "Willow Street"
and tap your feet to the exquisite jig "Connaughtman's Rambles," during
"Live for today."
So, here it is. Sit back, close your eyes, crank up the stereo, and ENJOY...
Special
thanks to those who endured my crazy ways over the years: Mum, Dad, Paul, Helen, Ian,
Michael, Emma, Simon, Rhian & Rhys, Rick & Amanda, and the Westovers. Cheers--I
Love You!
