|
Robb Strandlund began his career singing with his parents on a Chicago radio station at the tender age of four. After the family moved to California he began to be influenced by the country groups that played around the rural area outside San Diego in Lakeside, where he was raised. While in High School he began working at folk clubs in San Diego. After High School he relocated to Los Angeles, appearing at venues like the Troubadour, the Ash Grove, and the Ice House. His career was temporarily interrupted in the late sixties by a tour of combat duty in Vietnam. In 1970 Robb took his 'California Country' music to the east coast where he worked a circuit of clubs and colleges from North Carolina to Boston. Robb's first major career break came in 1974 when the Eagles recorded a song he co-wrote with Jack Tempchin called "Already Gone". He returned to California and put together his band "The Silverados". Chris Darrow produced the Silverados album which eventually lead to Robb's signing as an artist with Polydor records and the release of his first album in 1975. After one album, he left Polydor and joined "The Flying Burrito Brothers" for a tour, but never recorded with the group. In 1978 Robb, along with Chris Darrow , and Max Budda from Kaleidoscope, formed "Rank Strangers" which also included vocalist Cindy Edwards and John Selk on bass. Rank Strangers recorded on Pacific Arts records for Michael Nesmith. Their album was released in the U.S. and Europe and received a Grammy nomination in the "vocal duo or group" category. In 1982 Robb left Los Angeles and moved to Nashville to pursue his song writing career. A year later Vern Gosden recorded Robb's song "I Can Tell by the Way You Dance" and it became the first number one hit for the artist and his label. It was also the number two air play country single in 1984. For the next ten years robb concentrated on song writing and publishing. Also, during this time he formed a duet with co-writer Denise Draper and they recorded for Warner Bros. Records. Today Robb is a multi-platinum songwriter, with songs on the best selling album of all time, 'Eagles Greatest Hits', and the best selling country album and the Country Music Association's 1994 album of the year, 'Common Thread'. His song writing credits also include several movies and television shows. Some of the artists who have recorded Robb's songs are The Eagles, Johnny Lee, Gary Morris, The Osborne Brothers, Mickey Gilley, Chris Darrow, Fred Koller , The Rank Strangers, Vern Gosden, Tanya Tucker, Waldon Dahl, and the Virginia Squares. While living in Nashville Robb played at clubs like 'The Bluebird Cafe' and made several guest appearances on the Grand ol Opry. Among Robb's television credits are Austin City Limits, Hee Haw, Nashville Now, Church Street Station, the Ralph Emery show, Nashville After Hours, and the Mike Douglas Show. Robb has made guest appearances as a session musician and vocalist with other recording artists. Most notably are, Bonny Rait (Urban Cowboy), Lacy J. Dalton, Michael Martin Murphy, Mike Love, Chris Darrow , Janie Frickey, and Johnny Lee. As an artist, Robb has shared the stage with The Nitty-gritty Dirt Band, Michael Martin Murphy, Neal Young, Glen Frey, Ricky Skaggs, Emmy Lou Harris, Delbert McClinton, Mimi Farina, John Hammond, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Bonnie Rait, The Birds, Redbone, Alice Cooper, George Jones, Bo Didley, Rose Mattox, The Whites, Ray Price, Janie Frickey, Lee Greenwood, John Connely, The Riders in the Sky, The Judds, Sawyer Brown, Gary Morris, Conway Twitty, Ray Price, Johnny Lee, The Bellamy Brothers, Kathy Mattea, Little Jimmy Dickins, Ray Stevens, Grandpa Jones, The Outlaws, and Hank Williams Jr. To name a few. Currently, Robb lives in Claremont California. |