Recruited in his early teens to play drums in his brother's N.C. based band (see bassist Sam), Robert's musical adventure began because ... well, it sounded cool. Thus began years of spending weekends playing anywhere from Kentucky to Florida. They eventually decided Florida was too far to drive -- so they moved there. Now taking up keyboard, Robert played alongside Sam in popular club bands like Rock Island Line, Headlines, and the Blue Miller Band, also taking a hiatus to attend Berklee College in Boston for a time.

Next up was a several yearlong engagement with the Cheyenne Stampede, house band at Orlando's Church St. Station. Following this Robert performed with vocalist Margo Rochelle, making regular appearances at Disney's Pleasure Island and playing concert and festival shows in the U.S. and Europe. He then spent three years traveling the eastern U.S. with recording artist David Mathis.