DRUMMER
PERCUSSIONIST
Watching Robert Gates play drums is a study in passionate musicianship. He puts his all into every piece - body, mind, and soul. Ranging from blues to rock, funk to gospel, Robert finds the heart in each and every song he plays.
"Brother Robert is one of the hardest working drummers in the business!" - Gregg Wright
Melvin Taylor - LIVE at Maui Sugar Mill - May 2024
Luke Pytel - LIVE at Maui Sugar Mill - June 2024
Mike Wheeler Blues Revue - That's What Love'll Make You Do - Oct '21
HISTORY: THE MAN BEHIND THE KIT
Performance Styles: Chicago Style Blues, Jazz, R & B, Funk, Classic Rock, Gospel, Latin.
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2023 Oropeza Middle School (Unified School District of Long Beach) Taught Semester of Percussion Workshop
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Oct 2023 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta (Mike Wheeler Blues Revue, Headliner), Demetria Taylor Band, OJB Blues Revue, Austin Thomason Band
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Oct 2022 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta (Laurie Morvan Band, Headliner), Gregg Wright Band, Mike Wheeler Blues Revue
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2022 Touring with Laurie Morvan Band: NorCal Tour, BC & AB Canada Tour, Midwest Tour, and Southern Tour
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2021 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, BC, Mexico (Gregg Wright Band, Headliner) Mike Wheeler Blues Revue, Casey Hensley Band
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2021 Produced, Promoted, and Performed the Mike Wheeler Blues Revue SoCal/Mexico Tour '21
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2019 & 2018 Leimert Park Village Heritage Festival, LA (The Gregg Wright Band, Headliner)
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Feb/Mar 2019 Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine "On The Road" First Call L.A. Drummer
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2019 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, BC, Mexico (Gregg Wright, and Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak)
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2018 Baja Blues Fest, Rosarito, BC, Mexico (Gregg Wright)
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2018 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, BC, Mexico (Gregg Wright)
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In LA: Performed with: Gregg Wright King of the Rockin' Blues, Rosa Lee Brooks, Tutu Jones (Cadillac Zack LA Tour), Bernie Pearl, Sonny "Thee Bluesman" Green
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In IA: Performed with: Iowa Hall of Famers George & Gil Davis of Sumpin' Doo, Tina Haase Findlay, Janey Hooper, Scot Sutherland
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In Chicago: Performed with: Buddy Guy, Linsey Alexander, Howard and Sir Walter Scott & the World Band, Mike Wheeler, John Bruhnke, Professor Eddie Lusk, Charles Crane, Chicago Bears Band, Valerie Wellington, Holle 'THEE' Maxwell
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'91 Chicago Blues Fest w/Betty Everett, '98 w/Nolan Struck and King Edward, '15 Illinois State Fair
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Toured with Stan Mosley Blues Band
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Recorded with: Gregg Wright, Carrie Lyn Infusion, Emery Williams, John Bruhnke, Tina Haase Findlay
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Exodus Drum & Bugle Corps Instructor
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Private Clinics: Billy Cobham, Ed Shaughnessy (Tonight Show), Art Farmer
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American Conservatory of Music, Chicago
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Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with Michael Hanes
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Mardi Gras Rex Parade, New Orleans
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U. S. Army Band School of Music
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Johnny Lee Lane at Eastern Illinois University (Summer band camps)
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Centralia, IL HS with David Drillinger
"Music is the variation of sound and silence. I believe silence has as much value as sound...because the meter keeps going.”
Robert Gates
Upcoming/Past Performances
Mon, Sep 16La LouisanneSep 16, 2024, 8:00 PM – Sep 17, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043- Wed, Sep 18La LouisanneSep 18, 2024, 8:00 PM – Sep 19, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
Sun, Sep 22Faith & Hope Community ChurchSep 22, 2024, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PMFaith & Hope Community Church, 344 W Florence Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90003- Sun, Sep 22La LouisanneSep 22, 2024, 8:00 PM – Sep 23, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Mon, Sep 23La LouisanneSep 23, 2024, 8:00 PM – Sep 24, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Wed, Sep 25La LouisanneSep 25, 2024, 8:00 PM – Sep 26, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
Sat, Sep 28Recreation CafeSep 28, 2024, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PMRecreation Cafe, 4500 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016- Sun, Sep 29Faith & Hope Community ChurchSep 29, 2024, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PMFaith & Hope Community Church, 344 W Florence Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90003
- Sun, Sep 29La LouisanneSep 29, 2024, 8:00 PM – Sep 30, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Mon, Sep 30La LouisanneSep 30, 2024, 8:00 PM – Oct 01, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Wed, Oct 02La LouisanneOct 02, 2024, 8:00 PM – Oct 03, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
Fri, Oct 04San Felipe Int'l Blues & Arts FestivalOct 04, 2024, 12:00 PM – Oct 05, 2024, 6:00 PMSan Felipe Int'l Blues & Arts Festival, 21850 San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
Multiple DatesFri, Jan 03Location is TBDJan 03, 2025, 8:00 PM – Jan 04, 2025, 12:00 AMLocation is TBD- Multiple DatesSat, Jan 04Location is TBDJan 04, 2025, 8:00 PM – Jan 05, 2025, 12:00 AMLocation is TBD
- Multiple DatesSun, Jan 05Location is TBDJan 05, 2025, 8:00 PM – Jan 06, 2025, 12:00 AMLocation is TBD
- Multiple DatesMon, Jan 06Location is TBDJan 06, 2025, 8:00 PM – Jan 07, 2025, 12:00 AMLocation is TBD
- Sun, Sep 15Faith & Hope Community ChurchSep 15, 2024, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PMFaith & Hope Community Church, 344 W Florence Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90003