Musician & Author

Robb Lawrence

Welcome to Robb Lawrence's music, band and book website. As a guitarist of 50 plus years performing in Southern California, he has had the great pleasure of playing with many of the finest musicians from America and the United Kingdom.

Working since 1976 at Studio Instrument Rentals in Los Angeles, he operated a guitar gallery for music, film, & video production working on countless projects that was a very rewarding experience.

With his great passion for America's guitar history, Robb had the foresight to interview the world's finest guitarists, inventors and luthiers since the early seventies. Guitar Player Magazine has published his Rarebird and guitar history articles to share this fine heritage. He is also featured in the new book "Guitar Player, The Inside Story".

In 2008-9 Hal Leonard publishing released Robb's box set in-depth tome on The Les Paul Legacy. Future books he's written on Gibson, Fender, National/Dobro/Rickenbacher and Heritage Guitars are in preparation to publish.

Having designed and built over 30 instruments, Robb is going to be sharing with the world a new signature guitar in the near future with a prestigious guitar company. Also will be a new release of his original recordings with very special instruments and great musicians.

Stay tuned!

bio

Robb Lawrence bio

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Years active:

1965 - present

Taught guitar at La Jolla Music 1967-1971.

Began studio recordings and tech work in the early seventies.

Performing and recording with fine vintage guitars and amplifiers ~ plus designing modern ergonomic guitars with advanced electronic designs are part of his instrumental musical passions!

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Robb58-63ExplorerLaJollaLoR

1973 La Jolla Ca, with '58 Explorer & '59 Les Paul Sunburst and '64 blonde Super Reverb amplifier

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Origin:

Waikiki HI, San Diego & Malibu, California

Genres:

Surf Rock, R&B, Classic Rock, Pop, Traditional Blues, Brazilian Jazz, Pyschedelia, Jazz Fusion, Hawaiian & Instrumental New Age

PURPLE WAVE

Instruments performed:

Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Electric Bass, Steel Guitar & Ukuleles, and the Tenor Mandola

Performance, Recording and Video credits:

Thee Group band 1965-1967

Blue Steel band 1967-1969 with Anthony Adams

Witchcreek band 1970-1972 with Michael Sterling & Duane Decker

Drummer Jim Keltner's Record Plant LA recordings in 1973.

Vicki Sue Robinson Band arranged live version of Turn the Beat Around in 1975.
Cherokee Studio session with Brad Whitford & Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith featuring drummer Carmine Appice in 1976.

The Babys "Head First" platinum LP ~ mandola on the track "California" in 1979.

Goldstar Recording session on oud guitar for mideast Disco hit with Phil Spector.

Trancas Beach Malibu House Guitarist for 5 years: Little Feat Rhythm Section, JJ Cale, Gary Busey, Mick Fleetwood, Tower of Power horns, and Lee Michaels.

Weird Al Yankovich's "Compleat Al" Movie ~ auditioning Heavy Metal Guitarist.

Robb worked on the Mr. Gone album with Weather Report and later performed with Seymour Duncan, Nelson Jervis and bassist Jaco Pastorius in Hollywood.

Mid-80's two year stint with Jimi Hendrix's drummer extraordinaire...

Mitch Mitchell & Moldy Figs band with bassist Freebo, trumpeter Lee Thornberg, Taquila Mockinbird on vocals & Skip Van Winkle on keyboards.

The Knack offshoot band with Bruce Gary, Prescott Niles, Fred Mandell & Cherie Curie. Bruce and Robb also performed with Blowing Smoke at Harvelle's Santa Monica with Cream bassist Jack Bruce.

As a protege and guitar tech with Les Paul since the seventies, Robb had the prilivedge to work many West Coast concerts with the master and perform at the House of Blues for the All-Star Les Paul Tribute concert. He also helped produce a memorable TG Martell Foundation Les Paul Birthday show at the Gene Autry Heritage Museum with a special concert with his band including bassist Phil Chen, guitarist Laurence Juber, drummer Bruce Gary, Bobby Zinner and Fred Mandell.

Robb serenaded Jennifer Lopez as her guitarist on the video ballad "Alive".

Jimi Hendrix 60th Birthday Celebration at BB King's Universal City with Experience bassist Noel Redding, Ginger Baker's son Kofi Baker on drums and percussionist Jumo from Woodstock. Robb played in 2000 for Jimi's 40th Memorial concert in Seattle for Tina Hendrix with Leon Hendrix and Randy Hansen. Robb returned later that year to perform at the Hard Rock Cafe for Jimi's 68th Birthday Celebration.

John Paisano and Robb put on Eddie Lang's 100th Birthday celebration at Spazio's restaurant in 2002 with a host of LA's fine guitarists. Robb and Mitch Holder did a duet of Eddie Lang/Carl Kress tunes that night. The Bob Barry b&w portrait above is from that special performance with Eddie's Gibson L-5.

Robb performed with Rockin' Doopsie during Jazzfest in New Orleans and toured with guitarist Lil' Buck Senegal (Zydeco star with Clifton and Buckwheat) and vocalist/button accordianist Fernest Arceneau in 2003. One highlight was their Ojai Bowlful of Blues performance.

Ben Fisher and Robb had The Cool Band with vocalist Terry Reid and bassist Prescott Niles for gigs at the Cock & Bull with with greats like Mick Taylor sitting in. The beautiful and talented Carla Olson replaced Terry for later gigs'.

Westlake CA DaRobb Band performances included very talented musicians Sherwood Ball, John Walmsley, Gary Swan, Rick Reid and Joe Romersa.

Recent performances have been in North County San Diego with his Qi band consisting of Pete Bogle on drums and Larry Morgan on bass and vocals.