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The Baseball / The Music / The Band
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THE BASEBALL:
Bruce Robinson was born and raised in La Jolla, California. After graduating from La Jolla High, Bruce matriculated to Stanford where he starred for 3 years
on the baseball team, earning All-Conference and All American honors.
A first-round pick (21st pick) out of Stanford University by the Oakland Athletics in the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft, Bruce's career was derailed by an
automobile accident caused by a drunken driver while playing for the New York Yankees in 1980. Missing two seasons following surgery, Bruce Robinson never
returned to the majors, though he continued to play in the minor leagues through 1984. During that time, he was a player-coach for the Modesto A's in 1984,
where he worked with future sluggers Mark McGwire and José Canseco.
Robinson's lasting legacy on the game will be his invention of the "Robbypad" in 1979. The "Robbypad", a hinged flap on the right/throwing shoulder of a
catcher's chest protector, began seeing widespread use in the mid-1980s and can be viewed on most every catcher's chest protector from the major leagues to
youth leagues. One of two original "Robbypads" resides in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Robinson retained the original prototype.
Robinson, along with former New York Yankee pitching star and long-time S.F. Giants' pitching coach, Dave Righetti, were involved in a car accident in 1980.
Robinson's right shoulder sustained a career impacting injury, necessitating shoulder reconstruction in May 1981. A drunken driver rear ended Robinson and
Righetti, stopped in a left hand turn lane as they were nearing their residence. Robinson, due to the shoulder injury sustained in the collision, could not
take advantage of being in position to be the starting catcher for the Yankees in 1981.
Robinson missed the 1981 and 1982 seasons on the disabled list and never returned to the Major Leagues. He did attempt a comeback in 1983 and 1984, but fell
short. Despite leading the Oakland A's in batting average during spring training of 1984, he was sent to the minor leagues before accepting a hitting coach
role with one of the A's minor league affiliates in Modesto, California. Robinson's primary role was to work with two young hitters, Mark McGwire (fresh from
the 1984 Olympic team) and Jose Canseco, who was underperforming. McGwire and Canseco went on to prolific and controversial careers in the "steroid age" of
baseball in the 1980's and 1990's.
Bruce's oldest son, Scott, played 8 years of professional baseball with the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, before earning an engineering degree and
entering the field of construction management. Daughter Kelly was a standout athlete and is a happily married mom of 4 in Idaho. Youngest son Tommy starred
in baseball through high school, played into college, earned a degree in Criminology and now is a Deputy Sheriff, SWAT team member and sniper for the Twin Falls,
Idaho Sheriff's Department.
THE MUSIC:
Bruce became interested in music with the release of Rhythm of the Rain by the Cascades in 1962, his first record purchase, a 45 RPM. As with millions
of youngsters, Bruce was glued to the television for the 3 consecutive Ed Sullivan shows featuring the Beatles in 1964.
In the 6th grade, Bruce became part of a musical group for two years. Bruce sang and played bass on a 6 string electric guitar borrowed from his neighbor
and fellow bandmember. The group played a few gigs at school carnivals and churches before Bruce dropped out due to his commitment to reaching his goal
of playing Major League Baseball.
In the 8th grade, Bruce was taken to Tijuana by his junior high school Spanish teacher and wife for an evening of Mexican food and jai alai. While in
Tijuana, his Spanish teacher, Mr. Woerner, bought him his first guitar, a $10 steel string that was, to say the least, a bit difficult to get the strings
to the frets. Stymied, Bruce put the guitar down until his freshman year in college when his Mom bought him a classical guitar. On this guitar, Bruce began
learning chords and fingerpicking.
During the summer of 1974, between his sophomore and junior years at Stanford, Bruce was in Wichita, Kansas for a national baseball tournament with his
Fairbanks, Alaska summer baseball team. He and a guitar playing coach, and now close friend, Dave Dowdy, had been looking for the right Martin guitars to
buy in every music store in every town the team played as the team worked its way from Alaska to Kansas. Dowdy and Robinson were being picky, but the wait
paid off as each of them bought a beautiful new Martin guitar.
Bruce carried his new guitar with him throughout that summer, his junior and final year at Stanford and on road trips during his 10 year baseball career.
He played other people's songs but also experimented with interesting chord progressions and lyric improvisation that would, decades later, be the foundation
to the start of his songwriting.
Bruce penned his first song in 2008 and began playing in bars and restaurants in Twin Falls, Idaho and San Diego, California. Two more songs were written
in 2009 and 3 more in 2010, when he started playing the ukulele.
Early in 2011, Bruce decided to embark upon a lifelong dream, to record a CD of his 6 originals and cover songs. Bruce wrote 13 more songs late in 2011 and
quickly recorded the equivalent of a home-made cd of 20 songs, playing all the instruments and getting a recording baptism by fire. The January 2011
CD, "IT'S ABOUT TIME", provided invaluable experience to the recording rookie. The CD case was terrific, but the music left Bruce wanting to improve his
skillset and one day invest the necessary time and capital to record a fully produced CD. His desire was to assemble team of top professional musicians to
back his original lyrics and music.
By July, 2012, Bruce had penned 13 new songs. He was referred by childhood schoolmate and friend, Barney Roach, to Richard Livoni, owner of Blitz Recording
Studio in San Diego. Livoni proved to be the perfect match for Bruce's
massive 33 song project.
With a cast of talented musicians, Bruce realized his dream, watching his music came alive on his second CD, "IN GOOD HANDS". The record is a collection
of 33 songs on 2 CDs and includes country, blues, rock and jazz originals.
Bruce penned 17 new songs between the release of "IN GOOD HANDS" through early in 2014. He spent much of the spring of 2014 in the recording studio
producing his 3rd CD, "3", clearly his best work to date. With the same team of musicians backing him, plus the addition of a talented pedal steel player,
Bruce has created a meaningful body of music that leans more to country, but, once again, includes a few blues, rock and jazz compositions.
Bruce's 4th and newest CD, "Red Rose", is a collection of 21 lyrically articulated country (8), acoustic country blues (6), blues (2), Reggae (1),
Latin rock (1), pop (1), ballad (1) and rock (1) originals. The growth between "3" in 2014 and "Red Rose" in 2020 is dramatic in the musical diversity,
from complex layering of numerous instruments and special effects to simple acoustic country blues that evoke an era gone by.
In February 2021, Bruce released two political protest singles, "1st Day In Office" and "What Color Glasses Do We Need".
The songs are 60's style guitar and vocal and no other instrumentation. The songs are available for downloading only and can be seen on YouTube.
THE BAND: "RED ROSE"
Bruce Robinson (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, resonator guitar, chimes and rain stick) Bruce has played solo at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, in Las Vegas and throughout
the United States.
Jim Nau (electric lead guitar, drums, tambourine, shakers, maracas) Jim is the producer and sound engineer for "Red Rose", in addition to adding his many musical talents
he adds to the album. Jim has degrees in electrical engineering and music production along with 4 decades of recording experience in the analog and digital arenas.
He has worked on over 200 albums and owns Blue Horse Studio where "Red Rose" was recorded.
John Cain (piano, organ and harmonica) John Cain, know principally as a jazz pianist and singer, is also a composer, author, actor, bandleader, arranger and conductor.
He is a multi-instrumentalist playing piano, guitar, bass, harmonica, accordion, and sings in five languages. John appears on all 3 of Bruce's fully produced
CD's, "Red Rose", "3" and "In Good Hands".
Rick Nash (bass guitar) Rick has been playing bass professionally for 45 years. Rick has shared the stage with many well-known artists such as Chaka Khan,
Art Neville, Albert Lee, Chris Isaak, Jimmy Vaughan, Walter Trout, and Jimmy Forrest (Night Train). He has opened for Crosby Stills and Nash, Edgar Winter,
The Doobie Brothers, Bad Company, Lee Riitenour and more. Rick appears on all 3 of Bruce's fully produced CD's, "Red Rose", "3" and "In Good Hands".
John Rekevics (alto, tenor & baritone saxophone, flute) John is a world class talent whose diverse musical career includes playing with the San Diego Pops
Orchestra, in dozens of Broadway musicals, on hundreds of jingles, on many albums, and performances with Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Donna Summer, The
Temptations and Lynard Skynard, to name a few.
Leah Keane (harmony vocalist) Leah Keane is a compelling folk singer/songwriter from San Diego, California. Her unique vibrato and soulful delivery lends
to her originality and versatility. Leah has had the opportunity to perform live on TV and her songs have been featured on local radio.
THE BAND: "3" and "IN GOOD HANDS"
Aristotle Georgio (harmonica) is an accomplished blues harp player. He grew up in New Orleans and has played with artists such as B.B. King,
Bo Diddley, The Allman Brothers and Doc Watson. Currently, Aristotle tours with Lionel Ritchie. (appears on "3" & "IN GOOD HANDS")
John Cain (keyboards) is a talented, innovative working musician, composer, author, teacher, singer, entertainer, arranger, orchestrator and
session player. (appears on "3" & "IN GOOD HANDS")
Richard Blitz (lead Guitar, drums, harmonies) Richard Blitz is the founding member of The Blitz Brothers. He gained a legendary reputation as one
of southern California's greatest guitar players. He has shared the stage with Leon Russell, Jeff Beck, Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, Robin Trower, Judas Priest,
Johnny Winter, Elvin Bishop, Paul Butterfield, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Hoyt Axton, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and more. (appears on "3" & "IN GOOD HANDS")
Rick Nash (bass guitar) has been playing bass professionally for 40 years. Rick has shared the stage with many well-known artists such as Chaka Khan,
Art Neville, Albert Lee, Chris Isaak, Jimmy Vaughan, Walter Trout, and Jimmy Forrest (Night Train). He has opened for Crosby Stills and Nash, Edgar Winter,
The Doobie Brothers, Bad Company, Lee Riitenour and more. (appears on "3" & "IN GOOD HANDS")
Tim Cook (pedal steel, trombone) is a respected, multi-talented musician who is in constant demand for his pedal steel, trombone and accordion
excellence. (appears on "3")
Joe Marillo (saxophone) excels on tenor saxophone as a master of improvisation. Joe was part of the first white house band to play the Apollo
Theater in Harlem, NY, was a regular in Atlantic City and Las Vegas show bands and has played every top jazz venue in the U.S. (appears on "In Good Hands")
Katie "Cat" Catinella (background vocals) ) studied classical voice as an undergraduate and honed her vocal skills with the Oakland Symphony
Chorus and at the Berkeley Jazz School. (appears on "IN GOOD HANDS")
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