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.
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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
Sun, May 19La LouisanneMay 19, 2024, 8:00 PM – May 20, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043- Mon, May 20La LouisanneMay 20, 2024, 8:00 PM – May 21, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Wed, May 22La LouisanneMay 22, 2024, 8:00 PM – May 23, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Sun, May 26La LouisanneMay 26, 2024, 8:00 PM – May 27, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Mon, May 27La LouisanneMay 27, 2024, 8:00 PM – May 28, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Wed, May 29La LouisanneMay 29, 2024, 8:00 PM – May 30, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
Multiple DatesFri, May 31Laguna Beach Cultural Arts CenterMay 31, 2024, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PMLaguna Beach Cultural Arts Center, 235 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651- Multiple DatesSat, Jun 01Matt Denny's Ale House RestaurantJun 01, 2024, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PMMatt Denny's Ale House Restaurant, 145 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia, CA 91006
- Multiple DatesSun, Jun 02Malainey's GrillJun 02, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PMMalainey's Grill, 168 N Marina Dr, Long Beach, CA 90803
- Multiple DatesMon, Jun 03Los AngelesJun 03, 2024, 8:00 PM – Jun 04, 2024, 11:00 PMLos Angeles, 18389 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356
- Tue, Jun 04Coomber Craft WinesJun 04, 2024, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PMCoomber Craft Wines, 611 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92054
- Wed, Jun 05La LouisanneJun 05, 2024, 8:00 PM – Jun 06, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
Thu, Jun 06Barbara Morrison Performing Arts CenterJun 06, 2024, 8:00 PMBarbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, 4305 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Sat, Jun 08Vincent Hill StationJun 08, 2024, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PMVincent Hill Station, 553 Sierra Hwy, Acton, CA 93510- Sun, Jun 09La LouisanneJun 09, 2024, 8:00 PM – Jun 10, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Mon, Jun 10La LouisanneJun 10, 2024, 8:00 PM – Jun 11, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Wed, Jun 12La LouisanneJun 12, 2024, 8:00 PM – Jun 13, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Sun, Jun 16La LouisanneJun 16, 2024, 8:00 PM – Jun 17, 2024, 12:00 AMLa Louisanne, 5812 Overhill Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90043