Robert Ross is an award winning blues artist, a nasty guitarist, a soulful vocalist and an imaginative songwriter. He and his band play hard driving boogie, hip grinding soul, burning rock 'n' roll, and low down & dirty blues. David Hinckley of the NY Daily News once wrote, "Robert Ross is one of the most impressive young bluesmen around."

Robert's new cd "What Are We Fighting For?" will be released in September, 2004 on Fountainbleu Records. The 4 song protest cd examines the 2000 presidential election, nationalism, erosion of freedom, corporate greed and the Iraq War. It's a bit of a departure for Ross who is primarily known for blues.

Photo by John Muller at Botany Blues Festival 2008.

In March of 2002, Fountainbleu Records released "Sleight of Hand" which showcased the best material from two previous Ross recordings. The cd was re-mastered by Dennis Ferrante (Elvis, Aerosmith, John Lennon). Guitar World called "Sleight of Hand an excellent new cd." Blues societies and radio stations in dozens of cities around the country loved it too.

In 1999, Brambus released a live cd entitled, "Lightness ... to Dark". It was also released in the USA on Blue Planet Records as, "It's Alive".

In l996, Brambus Records released "Darkness ... to Light" in Europe. The band began touring Europe extensively to packed houses. Reviews have been numerous and impressive. The CD received lots of airplay too.

In 1994 Johnny Winter's version of Ross' "Sittin' In The Jailhouse" was re-released on Legacy Records, a subsidiary of Sony, on a "best of" cd entitled "A Rock 'n" Roll Collection". Winter had originally recorded the song for Columbia Records in 1980, on an LP entitled "Raisin' Cain".

In 1991, Ross' own Blue Planet Records released "Rockin' the Rails". Jim Coen of Guitar World wrote, "Ross sings convincingly, and is an exceptional slide player deserving a much larger audience, 3 1/2 stars!" Robert Makin of the Aquarian wrote, "If you closed your eyes you'd swear Ray Charles was playing Buddy Guy's guitar ... one of the East Coast's best and most inventive blues men." Rafael Alvarez wrote in the Baltimore Sun, "Ross could make 'God Bless America' stand on its head and rock ... Ross fares well against Stevie Ray Vaughan."

Robert won a NY Music Award as Best Blues Artist in 1989. He has been nominated a total of six times over the years alongside such stars as Johnny Copeland, Taj Mahal, John Hammond Jr., and Roscoe Gordon. Robert has also won an East Coast Rocker Award for Best Blues Artist.

Riverhead Blues Festival's 2008 program guide. Cover: Jane Starwood of Times Review. Photo: Barbaraellen Koch. Click to enlarge.

An LP called "It's Rough 'n' Tough" was released in Europe on Victoria Records, a subsidiary of RCA in 1984. A Guitar World review by Rafael Alvarez read, "Robert Ross is an imaginative writer with files of Twilight Zone tales accumulated in his wanderings ... soulful, vigorous guitar playing ... agile cat quick licks."

An EP released on Baron Records in 1981 entitled "Introducing Robert Ross" came out of nowhere to take seventh place for Record of the Year in the Baltimore Sun. The 4 song disc got a lot of airplay in Europe and Africa, as well as in the USA. It also received some rave reviews.

The Robert Ross Band has appeared on radio and TV numerous times in Europe as well as the USA including ABC's "Alive at Five" and WB's "Good Morning America". They have also performed at the 2002 Chicago Blues Festival and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Altogether, Robert appears on 8 internationally distributed recordings including the 1976 Big Joe Turner classic on Spivey Records entitled, "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter". That was classic blues singer Victoria Spivey's label.

Ross has worked with: Big Joe Turner, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Otis Rush, Dr. John, Memphis Slim, J.B. Hutto, Eddy Kirkland, Floyd Jones, Homesick James, Brownie McGhee, Sunnyland Slim, Bobby Lewis, Charles Ward (Ink Spots), Pinetop Perkins, Charles & Cyrille Neville, and others. Ross has also warmed up audiences for: Albert King, Freddie King, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Dixon, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Jr. Wells, Johnny & Edgar Winter, John Lennon, Jethro Tull, Ron Wood, Aretha Franklin, The Band, The Allman Brothers, Guy Clark (The Byrds), Leon Russell, Ronnie Earl, Lonnie Mack, John Hammond, Rory Block, Johnny Copeland, Gatemouth Brown, Laverne Baker, Roomful of Blues, Son Seals, Spencer Davis, Dusty Rhodes, Duke Robillard, Lazy Lester, Bobby Rush, Eddy Clearwater, Roscoe Gordon, Mose Allsion, and James Cotton. Robert has also jammed onstage with the likes of Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jay McShann, Junior Wells, and Art Blakey.

Robert Ross is a very distinctive and soulful singer who knows how to sell a song. He is a killer guitarist whose spine-tingling solos tell a story mere words alone cannot express. Albert King added, "He's so fast, lightning would have to get on roller skates to catch him." He also plays a very wicked slide guitar and some harmonica. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page used one word to describe this group, "HOT!!!"

Robert Ross is the total package. Bill Carlton of the NY Daily News expressed it best when he wrote, "Robert Ross is a fine singer, a snappy lyricist, and an even better blues rock guitarist ... cut from the same cloth as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Johnny Winter ... Time after time Ross delivers the goods".

Reknowned visual artist, writer, and Coney Island personality Mermaid Hawley gives the Bluesman a peck at the Side Show. Photo by Laurie Thomas, also a reknowned visual artist, as well as the "mother" of Little Ricky, the world's most ferocious mini canine. Click to enlarge image.

1. "He's so fast, lightning would have to get on roller skates to catch him." Albert King as reported by Hank Reineke, East Coast Rocker 1988

2. "If you closed your eyes you'd swear Ray Charles was playing Buddy Guy's guitar ... one of the East Coast's best and most inventive blues men." Robert Makin, Aquarian

3. "Robert Ross is one of the most impressive young blues men around." David Hinckley, NY Daily News

4. "Robert Ross is an imaginative writer with files of Twilight Zone tales accumulated in his wanderings ... soulful, vigorous guitar playing ... agile cat quick licks." Rafael Alvarez, Guitar World

5. "Ross sings convincingly, and is an exceptional slide player deserving a much larger audience ... 3 1/2 stars!" Jim Coen, Guitar World

6. "HOT!!" Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, as reported by Pablo Guzman in the NY Daily News, 1987

7. "Ross could make 'God Bless America' stand on its head and rock ... Ross fares well against Stevie Ray Vaughan." Rafael Alvarez, Baltimore Sun

8. "Darkness ... To Light" is ... low down and dirty ..... passionate, intense, gritty ... smooth, soulful, melodic voice .... witty, clever, thought-provoking lyrics ... unique, eerie, imaginative writing ... an upbeat, high energy, get out of your seat groove ... haunting, nasty, soulful guitar ... exceptional slide guitar .... dynamic and explosive rhythm section ... thrilling and chilling." Stephanie Brandt, Blues Views (NY Blues Society Newsletter), Winter, 2000

9. "(Ross) has long been one of New York City's premier guitarists ... an arsenal of attacks, a wide vocabulary of voicings and a full bag of styles ... a one of a kind voice ... ("Darkness ... To Light" features) great tunes ... "Born With These Blues" has hit written over every bar ... It's not often you get a project that scores as highly as this one. Great songs, amazing musicians and first class production get this CD nothing lower than the highest recommendation. Put it at the top of your list." Joe Grandwilliams, Good Times, March 23, 2000

10. "Robert Ross is NY blues ... a great technical player who can bend and wail with a lot of feeling." Blues Today

11."Ross' Stevie Ray Vaughan-like playing and Southside Johnny-ish sense of fun ... make his long awaited "Sleight Of Hand" disc soulful fun .... excellent playing .... On such fiery tunes as Ross' "She's Fine as Fine Will Ever Be," you can hear a sense of studio restraint just waiting to bust out live." Bob Makin, Courier News 4/13/03.

12."If that guy was black, I could make him a star." Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records as told to Kent Cooper, Blue Labor Records at Tramps, NYC, 1980.

13. "Sleight Of Hand is an excellent new cd." Alan Paul, Guitar World 12/5/02.

14. "("Lightness ... to Dark" aka "It's Alive!") is a raucous rave ... excellent blues guitar ... sings like he grew up in Memphis ... masterful renditions of some of the best blues tunes of our time. This is blues at its best - live and gutsy. Hats in the air and let's all cheer!" Generator 21, 2003.

15. " ... one of New York City's best-kept musical secrets. ... his slide-guitar work ... grinds & bites in a manner that does justice to these late legends. ... this modern fretmaster ... (is) equally at ease with softer & subtler nuance as he is tearing into harder-edged 12-bar blues. ... rich-sounding vocal phrasing & crisp soloing. 'Sleight of Hand' is one musical trick worth experiencing. Rating: 9 (out of 10)." Manny Fernandez, Island Ear / Long Island Press 2003

16. "Nice stuff! You're doing the right stuff. You're the new Bob Dylan! I really like that! It's ("What Are We Fighting For?") really great!" Tom "Bones" Malone of the CBS Orchestra, Late Show With David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, and The Blues Brothers, August 1, 2004

17. "Robert! Good work! When can I get a copy of that? ("What Are We Fighting For?")" Dredd Scott Keyes, news director & recording engineer, WBAI Pacifica Radio, August 1, 2004.

18. "Robert Ross is a blues icon, one of the great blues spirits." Bob Fass, Radio Un-nameable, WBAI Pacifica Radio, NYC, 8/12/04

19. "The Robert Ross Blues Band ... has just recorded a repudiation of the Iraq war laced with dark humor ("What Are We Fighting For?")." David Hinckley, NY Daily News, August 18, 2004.

20. "On 'What Are We Fighting For?' award-winning singer, writer, and guitarist Robert Ross and his band tastefully blend rock 'n' roll, folk, jazz, blues, and gospel to serve up a collection of politically charged songs meant to stir and expand the debate of current American foreign policy." ToppleBush.com, 2004

21."What Are We Fighting For?" packs plenty of thoughtful lyricism into a compact package ... rollicking ... uplifting ... Ross sprinkles enough Clapton-like riffs ... to remind us of his considerable talents while letting his conscience be his guide." Manny Fernandez, Long Island Press, Oct. 14, 2004.

22."The Robert Ross Band makes a defiant political statement ... "What Are We Fighting For?" represents freedom of speech and democracy in action." Al Campbell, All Music Guide, December 2004

23. "Robert Ross sings with great authority ... and is a brilliant guitar player whether on the acoustic, electric or slide guitar ... Robert Ross &endash; you better remember the name." Bjorn Wiksaas, Blues-Stikka Magazine (Norway) 2003.

24. "Great Night & Great Songs - You are the Best!!" Jim Fassel (National Football League coach).

25. "It was a nice evening. Everyone enjoyed your playing. You have such a beautiful, lush voice ... (i'm a singer, so I know)."Kristine Massari, owner of Trumpets in Montclair, New Jersey

26."A master bluesman ... a hard-charging, accomplished blues guitarist, harmonica player, and singer .. His work often has cutting social overtones ... seems to hit a nerve." John Bostrom, Unitarian Church Social Concerns Committee, 4/17/06

27. "Robert Ross is a fine singer, a snappy lyricist, and an even better blues rock guitarist ... cut from the same cloth as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Johnny Winter ... Time after time Ross delivers the goods". Bill Carlton, NY Daily News, 1981.

Photo by Flint Gennari (FineArtFotos.com) assisted by Claudette.

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ROBERT ROSS BAND

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Promo for Riverhead Blues Festival 2008 designed by Naems from Anomylous.

Jon Loyd is an outstanding keyboardist who provides excellent backup vocals. Jon's playing and singing iare dynamic, tasteful and soulful. This is a young talent to watch in the years to come. In fact, the Wolf has arrived.

Mark Dann is a terrific bass player who anchors an explosive rhythm section. His playing is both intelligent and inspired. A consumate professional, the Good Doctor has been playing with Robert since 1977.

Steve Holley is a master drummer who plays with a two fisted fury. Steve has performed with the best and most celebrated artists in the world including Paul McCartney & WIngs, Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, Elton John and many othes.

Robert Ross won a NY Music Award for Best Blues Artist in 1989, an East Coast Rocker "Makin Waves Award" in 1992, and was a NY State Arts Council grant recipient in 2005. The singer, songwriter, guitarist, & harmonicist is known for blues, jazz and rock 'n' roll. Johnny Winter recorded and released one of Robert's songs, "Sittin' In The Jail House" twice. Robert recorded with the legendary Big Joe Turner on Spivey Records in 1976, and has backed up John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Brownie McGhee, Memphis Slim, Otis Rush, Dr. John, Big Mama Thornton, etc. The Robert Ross Band tours Europe frequently and has 7 cds out to date including their latest, "What Are We Fighting For?" on Fountainbleu Records.

Major Festivals: Montreal International Jazz Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, NJ PAC Sounds of the City

Local Festivals: Riverhead Blues Festival, NY Folk Festival, Benson & Hedges Blues Festival, Blues Brews & BBQ, Blues 2000, Stanhope Blues Festival, Long Island Blues Society Cedar Beach Festival, New Jersey Blues Cruise, South Street Seaport Blues Festival, Asbury Park Boardwalk Series, 9/11 Concerts, Rockland County Blues Festival, NY Jazz & Blues Society Jam, Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival,

NY Area Venues: Bottom Line, Tramps, B.B. King's, Lone Star Cafe, Lone Star Roadhouse, The Apollo, Village Vanguard, Folk City, Chicago Blues, Dan Lynch's, The Ritz, Max's Kansas City, CBGB's, Dr. Generosity, Manny's Car Wash, Squat Theater, Bitter End, Kenny's Castaways, Stephen's Talkhouse, Stanhope House, Turning Point, Bodles, Player's Tavern, Elysian Cafe, Doctor Generosity's, CBGB's.

Nations Toured: Canada, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Lichtenstein, Norway

States Toured: NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA, RI, VT, NH, ME, VA, MD, DE, NC, SC, GA, FL, IL, OH, TX, LA, KS, & D.C.

Photo by Rafael Alvarez (Mr. Baltimore) taken on 9/11/2005 in Herald Square during the September Concerts.

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ROBERT ROSS BAND

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