Rob Reynolds (musician)
Template:New unreviewed article Rob Reynolds b.1967 is an award winning singer/songwriter (plays acoustic/electric guitar, slide, lap steel, dobro steel/ slide, the harmonica, bass and keyboard.) who has opened for the likes of Midge Ure, Errol Brown, Hazel O’Connor, China Crisis, Big Joe Turner, Arthur Lee, and Love, Pete Wylie Procul Harem, Paul Carrack, Christy Hennessey, Glen Tilbrook, Hugh Cornwell and Amos Lee.2009 see’s the release of Rob’s 5th album, ‘Coming home' recorded with multi Juno winning producer, Brandon Friesen in Winnipeg, Canada, and also Rauschhardt’s album ‘Different Energy’s’ for which he wrote the text and melody’s, a project he’d been working on with producer and long time friend, Tom Jackson. Although born in Portsmouth, Rob grew up in Harrogate where, at the age of fifteen he began singing in various bands, learnt the guitar and commenced a song writing career that would win him accolade in the years to come.
1995 - Rob moved to London where his manager Carl Miller introduced him to Alvin Gibbs of punk veterans UK Subs. Through Carl and Alvin, Rob came to the attention of then-fledgling London based Indie record company, Invisible Hands Music.
1996- Rob toured supporting Midge Ure throughout the year. On October 21st , a single was released through Invisible Hands; an authentic and beautiful cover of the Arlen/ Choler jazz standard Stormy Weather, considered by many aficionados to be the definitive performance of the song. It achieved single of the week at Jazz FM and won a Jukebox Jury on Surf FM. There were countless radio sessions around the country along with dozens of TV appearances and a tour date supporting China Crisis 1997- On March 10th the single Take It Easy was released through Invisible Hands. In the summer the debut album, Waiting For The Tide, was recorded with an all- star cast featuring drummer Darren Mooney (Primal Scream), bassist Jon Noyce (Jethro Tull) , keyboard player Reg Webb ( Lenny Kravitz) and produced by ace guitarist Greg Bone ( Seal, Sting, Prince). Even the sound engineer (Robin Black) was a legend, having engineered albums by Wings, the Who, and Pink Floyd. 1998- 2003- After a long period of travelling and writing in different parts of the world ( including work in Germany with the Munich Symphony Orchestra ) and releasing his second album Samsara Never Sleeps which was Mojo magazines’ Album Of The Month ,Rob was part of an extensive press campaign which resulted with him being featured in various publications such as NME ,Melody Maker, Select, Classic Rock, Mojo , Blues and Soul and Time Out.. In July 2003 the single Sweet Mother hit the airwaves, staying on the BBC Radio 2 playlist for an impressive five weeks, and Radio 2 invited Rob to premier two tracks live to a massive radio audience as part of their Great British Music Debate. In Europe, airplay and live dates took place in Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Holland and Germany. In the autumn of 2003 Rob returned to London to record Sightseeing, combining a love of soul, blues, rock and jazz, written and produced by Rob, with a band made up of some of the country’s top musicians ( previous collaborations of the band members have included Manic street Preachers , Beverley Knight, John Martyn, Liberty x and many more) followed by playing support to Hazel O’ Connor for the rest of the year, continuing in to 2004.On the 11th December Rob supported Souad Massi at London’s Shepherds’ Bush Empire. By the end of 2003 Sweet Mother had been play listed on over forty stations. 2004- This year began with a tour of radio stations around the country. March 31st heralded the start of a whirlwind and successful tour with Hazel O’ Connor proceeded by an equally successful tour with Glen Tilbrook which made this a very busy year ending with an acoustic set supporting Pete Wylie at the Islington Academy in London. 2005- Rob won the ‘Best Of British ‘award playing to a packed audience at the prestigious MIDEM showcase in Cannes, France followed in February by an acoustic set supporting Nine Below Zero. March saw Rob playing two showcases at Canada Music Week, taking NXNE by storm, then New York and at the end of the month he played with Paul Carrack at London’s’ Canady Wharf. For June Canada again, touring with the legendary Hugh Cornwall ( The Stranglers), then Readings Abbey fest, two rapturously received sets at Glastonbury ,and winning the Baltic Song Competition in Malmo Sweden (a slightly smaller and much cooler version of Eurovision) in July 2005. A tour supporting Arthur Lee and Love then followed and at the tail end of 2005 Rob toured Ireland with Christie Hennessey, winning no less than 10 weeks on Irelands RTE1 playlist over Christmas and New Year. 2006-2008 Rob attended a radio promotion in Ireland, wrote and worked performing acoustic sets throughout the year in London as well as Switzerland. The beginning of 2007 saw the fourth album released, a compilation of his work so far entitled The Curious World, drawn from his three studio albums of a fascinating creative life and some of the best music made in the last twenty years .Rob then wrote what is to be his fifth album, 'Coming home', with multi-Juno winning producer Brandon Friesen and to be released in 2009, again performing at venues throughout Europe. Towards the end of the year he joined producer Tom Jackson ,writing the melodies and lyrics for Rauschhardt’s album, ‘Different Energy’s,’ to be released later in 2009.(Guitarist; Tom Rauschhardt, bass player; Jacki Reznicek, drummer; Sebastian Reznicek, keyboard player; Christoph von Haniel. 2009- This year Rob is releasing album Coming Home, produced by Brandon Friesen, to be released in Canada and Europe. This will be Robs busiest and most productive year to date, having an acoustic album to release also there is the expected release of Rauschhardt’s album, songs that he has performed on with Boyan and Roy Webbers new album, and a multitude of live sessions that he has performed, including the music festival in August, Rochefort where he performed with Piers Faccini and the legendary slide players BJ Cole and Roger Beaujolais with Rob Arnos on Sax. Selected Quotes. One to watch out for is Rob Reynolds, I first heard him play a live session on radio. He is a new Brit talent, offering real music and great songs. His album 'Sightseeing' contains at least two hits - Sweet Mother and Heaven Knows. It is out late March 2004 and, with the right backing at radio and press, could be big. - Ben Todd, The Daily Mirror, UK national Another breathtaking example of Rob Reynolds' superb voice and heart-shattering, bleeding, raw, lyrical emotion. 'Sightseeing' should see him feted as a truly class act. - The Big Issue, Manchester Rob Reynolds not only delivers the song, he drives it to your door and installs it. - The Daily Mail Bringing rock soul and blues together needs a hefty voice, and singer / songwriter Rob Reynolds delivers this and a whole lot more. - the Independent, UK national Superb.more please! - Nick Miller, Jazz FM breakfast show Absolutely exhausting. So much energy and power in the voice.very emotional. - Phil Morgan, Lantern FM What a voice! - Rory Barnett, BBC Oxford A voice to melt an ice queen's heart and great looks - our listeners thought he was great. - Pauline Daniels, BBC Merseyside Next Big Thing. - Samm Taylor, Sunday Star www.robreynolds.co.uk www.myspace.com/robreynoldsmusic Discography Singles: Stormy Weather, Take it Easy, Changes, Sweet Mother, Heaven Knows. Albums: Waiting for the Tide, Samsara Never Sleeps, Sightseeing, The Curious World,Coming Home