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
Gregg Wright . Cry Myself A River, August. 2018.
Mike Wheeler Blues Revue - That's What Love'll Make You Do - Oct '21
Tate Simms. I Wanna Be Your Lover. Naja's Place - Redondo Beach, May 21, 2023
HISTORY: THE MAN BEHIND THE KIT
Performance Styles: Chicago Style Blues, Jazz, R & B, Funk, Classic Rock, Gospel, Latin.
Feb 2023 "Forever Motown" with New York Original Cast; Merced, CA & Lancaster, CA
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 & 2018 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 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, 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
Exodus Drum & Bugle Corps Instructor
Private Clinics: Billy Cobham, Ed Shaughnessy (Tonight Show), Art Farmer
American Conservatory of Music, Chicago
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with Michael Hanes
Mardi Gras Rex Parade, New Orleans
U. S. Army Band School of Music
Johnny Lee Lane at Eastern Illinois University (Summer band camps)
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, Oct 01Los Angeles City CollegeOct 01, 3:30 PMLos Angeles City College, 855 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Thu, Oct 05Marine Room TavernOct 05, 9:00 PM – Oct 06, 1:00 AMMarine Room Tavern, 214 Ocean Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Fri, Oct 06Harvelle'sOct 06, 9:00 PM – Oct 07, 1:00 AMHarvelle's, 1432 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Sat, Oct 07Bodega Bar & GrillOct 07, 8:00 PMBodega Bar & Grill, 201 N Citrus Ave, Covina, CA 91723
Thu, Oct 12The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts CtrOct 12, 8:00 PMThe Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Ctr, 4305 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Fri, Oct 13San Felipe Blues & Arts FiestaOct 13, 6:00 PM – Oct 14, 6:00 PMSan Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, 21850 San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
Fri, Oct 13San Felipe Blues & Arts FiestaOct 13, 6:00 PM – Oct 14, 6:00 PMSan Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, 21850 San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
Fri, Oct 13San Felipe Blues & Arts FiestaOct 13, 6:00 PM – Oct 14, 6:00 PMSan Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, 21850 San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
Fri, Oct 13San Felipe Blues & Arts FiestaOct 13, 6:05 PM – Oct 14, 6:05 PMSan Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta, 21850 San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
Sun, Oct 22Sober Musician's PicnicOct 22, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PMSober Musician's Picnic, 1440 N Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga, CA 90290
Sat, Oct 28Private Halloween PartyOct 28, 8:00 PMPrivate Halloween Party, Culver City, CA
Sat, Sep 23Lavender BlueSep 23, 5:00 PMLavender Blue, 3310 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90305, USA
Fri, Sep 22Vanessa'sSep 22, 7:00 PM – Sep 23, 12:00 AMVanessa's, 1301 W Manchester Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90044
Fri, Sep 15La Puente Farmers MarketSep 15, 7:15 PM – 9:15 PMLa Puente Farmers Market, 15900 Central Ave, La Puente, CA 91744
Sat, Sep 09Leimert Park - 43rd St & Leimert AveSep 09, 12:00 PM – 8:00 PMLeimert Park - 43rd St & Leimert Ave, Leimert Park, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Thu, Sep 07Marine Room TavernSep 07, 9:00 PM – Sep 08, 1:00 AMMarine Room Tavern, 214 Ocean Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Fri, Sep 01Harvelle's Santa MonicaSep 01, 9:30 PM – Sep 02, 1:30 AMHarvelle's Santa Monica, 1432 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401