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.

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"Brother Robert is one of the hardest working drummers in the business!" - Gregg Wright

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HISTORY:  THE MAN BEHIND THE KIT

Performance Styles: Chicago Style Blues, Jazz, R & B, Funk, Classic Rock, Gospel, Latin.

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• Oct 2022 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta (Laurie Morvan Band, Headliner), Gregg Wright Band, Mike Wheeler Blues Revue

• 2022 Touring with Laurie Morvan Band: NorCal Tour, BC & AB Canada Tour, Midwest Tour, and Southern Tour

• 2021 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, BC, Mexico (Gregg Wright Band, Headliner) Mike Wheeler Blues Revue, Casey Hensley Band

• 2021 Produced, Promoted, and Performed the Mike Wheeler Blues Revue SoCal/Mexico Tour '21

• 2019 Los Angeles Black Music & Film Festival Awards (Drum Technician)

• 2019 Lawndale Blues Festival, LA (Awesome Blue Band)

• 2019 Leimert Park Village Heritage Festival, LA (The Gregg Wright Band, Headliner)

• Feb/Mar 2019 Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine "On The Road" First Call L.A. Drummer

• 2019 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, BC, Mexico (Gregg Wright, and Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak)

• 2018 Leimert Park Village Heritage Festival, LA (Gregg Wright)

• 2018 Baja Blues Fest, Rosarito, BC, Mexico (Gregg Wright)

• 2018 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, BC, Mexico (Gregg Wright)

• In LA: Performed with: Gregg Wright King of the Rockin' Blues, Gee Mack, Rosa Lee Brooks, Tutu Jones (Cadillac Zack LA Tour), Bernie Pearl, Sonny "Thee Bluesman" Green

• In IA: Performed with: Iowa Hall of Famers George & Gil Davis of Sumpin' Doo, Tina Haase Findlay, Janey Hooper, Scot Sutherland

• 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

• '91 Chicago Blues Fest w/Betty Everett, '98 w/Nolan Struck and King Edward, '15 Illinois State Fair

• Toured with Stan Mosley Blues Band

• Recorded with: Gregg Wright, Carrie Lyn Infusion, Emery Williams, John Bruhnke, Tina Haase Findlay

• Opened for: Lil' Milton, Otis Clay

• Exodus Drum & Bugle Corps Instructor

• Johnny Lee Lane at Eastern Illinois University

• Private Clinics: Billy Cobham, Ed Shaughnessy (Tonight Show), Art Farmer

• Mardi Gras Rex Parade, New Orleans

• American Conservatory of Music, Chicago

• Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with Michael Hanes

• U.S. Army Band

• Centralia, IL HS with David Drillinger