When Robin was less than a year old, his dad used to bounce him on his knee and say “Feel the beat?, Feel the beat?!” This early programming led him to become the dedicated musician he is today.
He began with Violin at 4 years old, then added saxophone at age 13. He began singing as a child and is almost totally self taught. He began composing music as a teenager and in 2007 won 2nd place in the ISC, one of the world’s most prestigious song writing competitions.
Robin’s diverse musical palate includes training from Zimbabwe, West Africa, Eastern Europe, Brazil and beyond. He also plays the clarinet, marimba, mbira, digeredoo and drums. His fascination with music from around the world, led him to a degree in ethnomusicology from the U of O and Evergreen State college in 2003. He also studied at the New Zealand Jazz University, where he lived for 7 years and worked as a street performer. His passion for cabaret, circus arts and musical theater grew in high school when he joined a theater improv group.
He has performed and toured internationally with a multitude of successful and zany groups and currently plays with Vagabond Opera and March Fourth Marching Band. He has appeared three times on Oregon Public Television in documentaries about Northwest musicians.
Robin also works as a part time youth mentor, music publicist, professional schmoozer, goes to burning man, and hangs out at his urban farm with his cat, Miso. He lives in Portland, OR