About
Thanks for checking out my web site. It's certainly been an incredible ride so far and the show isn't over yet. I started out playing guitar at age 15 and soon after moved to Boston, MA in search of something , in search of a sound....I have always been chasing sound...for almost 30 years now . In my early years I first began working for two of the most prestigious home stereo audiophile companies in the world . They were Madrigal Audio Labs & Cello Ltd. Their gear is still utilized by the top mastering engineers in the industry such as Bob Ludwig. While employed there, I was able to work alongside incredible design engineers and LISTEN to INCREDIBLE sounding audio systems that cost upwards of $150,000 to own...and that was in the eighties ! Those listening sessions and working with the people and parts used to build these systems gave my ears and eyes a keen insight into what makes something truly sound INCREDIBLE. I had never heard anything like it before.....and most never get the chance to. Those moments after work sitting alone in the listening room were an education for me.... Just me and a one million dollar audio system....It was incredible. It was imprinted on my brain early what "great sound" sounds like... As the years rolled on I played in a band with a great songwriter . The lessons I learned during this period were band/ musician interaction ,song structure and sound layering ..things that are instrumental to live sound mixing....early recordings were made in a 16 Track studio which was a first glimpse into the studio environment.....priceless. Little did I know that these experiences would all have me standing at the Hollywood Bowl mixing console three different times in the years to come.... It all mattered.. As time marched forward, I found myself jumping into LIVE sound, where the action was....Live music is incredible to me as the energy in both the performance and the audience are addictive. While living in Orlando FL I began working for MASQUE sound doing huge multi million dollar corporate shows and also assisting a sound engineer mentor for Orlando Magic basketball games. I was doing shows that were national now...it was getting exciting....I soon moved back to CT and began working for Sennheiser / Neumann . They are a world renowned microphone manufacturing company. While working there I was asked by the upper management what new products that I would like to see in the 'LIVE' sound world. I responded with a NEUMANN live handheld microphone that was built to take the punishment of a live environment. We began development of the Neumann KMS-105 and I was tasked to bring this mic to the touring marketplace. I did and worked with the engineers of Dave Matthews Band, Tracy Chapman, Paula Cole, Static X, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel , Tom Petty . Neil Young and many others.....It was surreal !! Now after that adventure I was approached by Mohegan Sun Casino, which was only three miles away from Sennheiser. You see I became good friends with the production managers as they utilized much of the Sennheiser/Neumann line of microphones that I supplied to them ....we were friends ! They made me an offer I couldn't refuse....I then moved on to become the Front of House audio engineer for the CABARET theater. In this theater I would mix over 250 shows per year for almost five years... Acts like Kristin Chenoweth , Paul Williams , Lea Salonga, Steve Tyrell, Patti Lupone, Frank Sinatra Jr, Nancy Wilson , Lou Rawls, Roy Clark, Lewis Black ....basically legends... the list goes on and on and on....It was fantastic. I won't soon forget those days and the great people.
THEN ...one day, an old friend called me and said " Queen Latifah is looking for a new FOH engineer in Los Angeles...Interested? " This tweaked my interest...I said for what gig? He said "her Hollywood Bowl debut" .... It took me about two days to think it over as it meant leaving my cushy house gig at Mohegan Sun.....I TOOK IT ! That was in 2007 and I haven't looked back....I got the gig ..... Since leaving that day I have been with Queen Latifah for over 17 years now. We have played with symphonies and in concert halls everywhere . Most recently back in Boston, where I started out , in front of over a half million people ! I also have toured with Roberta Flack and Natalie Cole all over the world alongside my friend and incredible engineer Howie Lindeman. I met Howie in the Mohegan Sun Cabaret where we became great pals to this day. We toured all over the world together laughing all the way...Great times !
So today I still tour with Queen Latifah and work locally with audio companies doing corporate and music festivals as well as sound installations for interesting projects.......Im also now the Asst Technical director for sound and video at Wesleyan University's Center for the Arts. It's been an incredible ride and I am still chasing that sound.
Thanks for stopping by.........
Rob





