Percussive Passion Personified!

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

HISTORY: THE MAN BEHIND THE KIT
Performance Styles: Chicago Style Blues, Jazz, R & B, Funk, Classic Rock, Gospel, Latin.
2021 Produced, Promoted, and Performed the Mike Wheeler Blues Revue SoCal/Mexico Tour '21
2021 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, BC, Mexico (Gregg Wright Band, Headliner)
2021 San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, BC, Mexico (Mike Wheeler)
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
"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
- Sun, May 29Big Blue Music & Brews Festival
- Sat, Jun 11Casuelas Cafe
- Sun, Jun 19Old Town Blues Club
- Fri, Jul 01Sly McFly's
- Sat, Jul 02Murphys Irish Pub
- Tue, Jul 05The Village at Palisades Tahoe
- Wed, Jul 06The Barlow
- Thu, Jul 07Fairytale Town
- Fri, Jul 08Twin Pine Casino
- Sat, Jul 09Twin Pine Casino
- Sun, Jul 10Powerhouse Pub
- Sat, Jul 16Casuelas Cafe
- Wed, Jul 20Club Fox
- Fri, Jul 22BlueFrog Studios
- Sat, Jul 23Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival
- Sun, Jul 24Rocky Point Park
- Tue, Jul 26Riverside Park Band Shell
- Thu, Jul 28Balfour Beach Inn