Robbie Rox
A Brief Biography
Robbie Rox born in Timmins Ontario and educated in Toronto at York University,
was destined to be a creative performer.
“It’s what I was put here to be”, say’s Robbie.
Dressed in pajamas, Robbie Rox’s career started in 1970, in Rimouski,
Quebec with an acoustic guitar and two very different thirty minute shows.
These acts saw Robbie warming up some of the big name American acts such
as “Gentle Giant” and “Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels.”
In 1973 he returned to Toronto and continued the same show with his
lifetime friend and fellow musician John Hobbs. A few rehearsals later
with Robbie singing and playing acoustic guitar accompanied by John, also
on acoustic guitar, they decided they needed to form a band for a more
interesting sound. This led to the first Robbie Rox band. The band rented
a house, in Toronto’s west end and rehearsed for their first demo tape
recording. With the assistance of Brian Guy who introduced the Robbie Rox
Band to H.P. and Bell. The band recorded their first professional demo
tape at Thundersound Studios. (H.P. and Bell, was a management company
that was formed from the original, famous, Canadian, Lighthouse Band. HP
& Bell; Paul Hoffert [Keyboards] Skip Prokop [Drummer] Bruce Bell [Roadmanager]).
The Robbie Rox band was booked professionally for the first time in 1974,
at the Legendary Yonge Station at Yonge and Bloor, where musicians of all
sorts came to check out the new bands. H. P and Bell then sent the Robbie
Rox band on a road trip that fall, starting in Thunder Bay and ending up
in Edmonton, Alberta. The band continued touring and went on an Eastern
tour in 1975, covering New Brunswick to PEI. After the eastern tour the
band was dissolved.
After some careful consideration and collaboration Robbie started his
first Horn Band in the summer of 1975. This band played for three years
performing at legendary clubs around Toronto, such as The El Mocambo, The
Colonial, The Midwich Cookoo and Larry’s Hideaway. In 1978, the now “Glabrous
Headed Rox” accompanied by this band released his first LP called “Construction
Site.” In 1978 Robbie also started the Catso, Porco, Rozzo Band. This band
performed many times at The Edge (originally Edgertons). Then in 1979,
released an LP called “RAW.” A year later Robbie was signed by Quality
Records. Robbie and the same band would record an LP called “Do What I
Do” on the Quality Records Label.
Robbie formed another band in 1981 and released an E.P. called “Man
Need Woman,” (an extended play, with 4 tunes). This band was
reorganised after one year and with some of the same musicians released
another Robbie Rox recording in 1982 called “Ghost Culture.”
In 1984 Robbie formed “Robbie Rox and The Monster Horn Band.” This band
delighted and entertained the crowds for three years playing in and around
Toronto at such venues as The El Mocambo, The Horseshoe, Larry’s Hideaway,
and the Diamond (now the Phoenix).
Born from an idea and the grouping of songs & compositions that
followed a theme, together with arranger Jeff Goodspeed. Robbie ventured
into a musical called “Ever Been to Sea Billy.” The show was well received
and played at The Phoenix in Toronto. Robbie then reconstituted the band
and called it CAZZOTTO. This band continued to perform around Toronto for
a number of years.
Then in the early 90’s Robbie using some of the same musicians from
his very first band from the seventies he started “The Rude Band.” This
band was basically a rock version for the Robbie Rox creative mind and
material. The band remained intact for 10 years and has recorded two CDs
called “Once The Heads Blown Off” and “The Big Screw.”
In 2000 Robbie organized a Monster Horn Band reunion at the Silver Dollar.
This reunited the band and Robbie has stayed with this setup ever since.
In 2003 Robbie Rox and The Monster Horn Band released on Robbie Rox Records,
“Earl Owns The World.”
Robbie is now setting his sights on the Australian and European markets
as there are radio stations down under and across the pond, already playing
and hyping cuts from the new CD.
“I guess I am doing this for the rest of my life,” says Robbie.
Discography
1974 THUNDERSOUND
1976 DOOMED TO A CATCHY TUNE
1978 CONSTRUCTION SITE
1979 RAW
1980 DO WHAT I DO
1981 MAN NEED WOMAN
1982 GHOST CULTURE
1995 ONCE THE HEAD'S BLOWN OFF
1997 THE BIG SCREW
1999 OUCH
2000 RADIO HITS
2003 EARL OWNS THE WORLD
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