Rob Lee began playing the drums professionally in 1990 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where he played with many top local acts including Cecile Brown, Brent Parkin , Lianne Fournier , Ron Paley, Michelle Gregoire , Knut Haugsoen and Vikrama , Don 'db' Benedictson, Earl MacDonald , Glen Willows, Stefan Bauer , Curtis Newton, Greg Lowe and many others. During this period Rob toured across Canada with folk/rock group The Wyrd Sisters . Rob played many of Canada's largest folk festivals with The Wyrds and appeared on the Canadian talk show 'Open Mike with Mike Bullard'. He also played on several locally produced recordings including Juno-nominated (Canada's Grammys) 'Raw Voice' by the Wyrd Sisters and Juno-nominated 'The Truck I Bought From Moe' by children's performer Al Simmons .--
In 1992-93 Rob enrolled in the jazz studies program at the University of New Orleans where he studied drum set with David Lee (Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins) and snare drum technique with Leland Beach (Louisiana Philharmonic) under the direction of Ellis Marsalis.--
From 1998-99 Rob worked for Norwegian Cruise Lines, playing in a jazz Quartet on The S/S Norway and later, in the showband on The M/S Norwegian Crown. In 1999, Rob was awarded a Professional Development Grant from The Manitoba Arts Council to study with renowned jazz drummers/educators Joe Morello(Dave Brubeck) and John Riley(Village Vanguard Orchestra, Bob Mintzer, Manhattan School of Music). From 1999-2000, he worked in the house jazz trio, led by Richard Mollin, at The Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown,NY.--
Rob moved to New Orleans,LA in 2000 where he worked with many highly respected local acts covering a broad range of styles. These acts include: Theresa Andersson (roots/rock singer/songwriter), John Gros (funk/rock keyboardist/songwriter), Brint Anderson (blues guitarist/singer), Marc Adams (blues/funk keyboardist), Rebecca Barry (jazz/R&B saxophonist/songwriter), Bill Huntington (renowned jazz bassist/guitarist), Craig Caliva (singer/songwriter), The New Orleans Nightcrawlers (funk brass band), Ingrid Lucia (singer/songwriter), Amanda Shaw (cajun/pop fiddler), Zu Zu Mud (ZZ Top Tribute), The Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra (society big band), Swing Set (40's/50's swing), and Kim Carson (country singer/songwriter). While based in New Orleans, Rob toured extensively throughout the U.S., appeared at the Waiheki Jazz Festival in New Zealand with singer John Boutte, appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with Theresa Andersson and toured throughout the U.K. with the zydeco group Dexter Ardoin and the Creole Ramblers. Rob also appears on several New Orleans produced recordings including 'No Regrets' by Theresa Andersson and 'Fit for Faded' by World Leader Pretend .--
In August 2005 Rob relocated to Texas where he's been working with several Austin/Houston acts including Kim Carson, Alan Haynes (blues singer/guitarist), Echoset (indie-rock group), Clay Farmer (country singer/songwriter), The Sarah Glynn Band (indie pop/rock), Chris Browder and Desperate Times (country/rock), Deadman (ambient rock), the Robert Henry Band (Americana/rock/country), John McVey (blues singer/guitarist), David K (guitarist/singer/songwriter), Ron Flynt (producer/engineer/bassist - Jumping Dog Studio), Penny Jo Pullus (singer/songwriter), Bruce Smith Band (Americana/rock singer/songwriter), Swamp Sauce (blues band), Austin Collins (Americana/rock), and The Dust Devils. In October 2007, Rob toured throughout Germany with the Austin based roots rock group Rainravens. A highlight of the tour was their set at the Crossroads Music Festival in Bonn, which was recorded for television broadcast on the WDR network's 'Rockpalast' series. Rob's latest project is Burly (f/k/a L.E.D.), a funk/rock/jam band project interpreting some of the funkiest music from New Orleans as well as funk and R&B standards from the 60' and 70's. The trio features Dave Ducharme (vocals/guitar), Dave Evertson (bass), Steve Miller (saxes/percussion) and Tom Hayes (trombone). Rob also continues to perform and record as a freelance musician.
Over the course of his professional career Rob has had the opportunity to perform with notable artists such as Snooks Eaglin, Eddie Henderson, Pinetop Perkins, Walter 'Wolfman' Washington, Guitar Shorty, Jim Suhler, Dwight Twilley, Steve Allen/Ron Flynt (20/20), Peter Case (Plimsouls) and Al 'Carnival Time' Johnson. He has opened for The Neville Brothers, Deborah Harry, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kevin Fowler, Otis Clay and Lou Rawls.
Recordings:
'Raw Voice' - The Wyrd Sisters (1997)
'Longbottom' - Ted Longbottom (1997)
'The Truck I Bought From Moe' - Al Simmons (1997)
'Flatland Cafe' - Hal Brolund (1997)
'Ooh Wah Baby' - Ben Sures (1997)
'Sweet Metigoshe' - David Hasselfield (1997)
'Travis Barre' - Travis Barre (1999)
'Chaos Blues' - Maggie May (1999)
'No Regrets' - Theresa Andersson (2002)
'Waiheke Island of Jazz 2002 - The Highlights' - Various Artists (w/John Boutte -2002)
'Fit For Faded' - World Leader Pretend (2003)
'Lines From A Distance' - Josh Milligan (2003)
'Color The Flowers' - Caleo (2003)
'Places Please' - N'Stankt (2005)
'Craig Caliva' - Craig Caliva (2005)
'The Way' - Chris Browder and Desperate Times (2006)
'2006 Family Scrapbook' - Fat Caddy Records (w/Austin Collins - 2006)
'My Barn Having Burned, I Can Now See The Moon' - Penny Jo Pullus (2006)
'Cry It Out' - Linton Mancilla (2006)
TBA - David K (2006)
TBA - Steve Bernstein (2006)
'Another Day in Texas' - Bruce Smith Band (2007)
TBA - Chris Chism (2007)
'Ruby' - The Rainravens
'Dead Horse' - The Rainravens
'Maintenance Man' - Rainravens
'Welcome to Nashville' - Rainravens
'Rose of Jericho' - Rainravens
'Rhonda of the Rodeo' - Bruce Smith Band
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