Bio

ROB BLAINE – A LIFETIME OF MUSIC

Rob Blaine’s life in music began at age twelve with keyboard and later guitar lessons. He was blessed to have parents who believed in providing opportunities for their children to develop their interests and hobbies. Early experience as a musician was gained by playing organ at church services on Sunday mornings. After finishing school and national service, Rob attended a music school that specialized in jazz. This was to be the start of a full-time career in music that focused primarily on teaching and performing.

From this point on things began to slowly develop, first with gigs at smaller venues and then at more prominent prestigious venues. The Green Dolphin Restaurant was a hot spot for live jazz in Cape Town throughout the 90’s. Rob’s own band “The Rob Blaine trio” was fortunate to feature on many occasions at that venue. Throughout this period Rob continued to play covers and jazz standards, but as time passed, he realized that unoriginal material would never provide the kind of musical satisfaction he valued. It was around this time that digital recording using personal computers was coming into its own. He began writing at a prolific rate and though his early compositions didn’t produce much interest locally, overseas interest via the net had begun to take early roots.

It’s important to note that Rob’s musical career began at around the same time affirmative action was instituted in South Africa. This effectively meant no funding or promotion of his work. Recordings and performances of original works had to be self-funded. (Terrestrial radio stations in South Africa today still refuse to play his music). None of Rob’s work is distributed in South Africa. Though some would regard this as an insurmountable obstacle, Rob wasn’t as easily deterred as many would expect – especially not the local music industry in his country.

Another important aspect of note is that Rob’s primary genre of choice, American smooth jazz, places him in direct opposition to the South African music industry, an organization that, as far as jazz is concerned, has committed itself to growing South African ethnic jazz. In an age of diversity, the most successful music industries in the world draw from a wide variety of talent.

Despite such setbacks, Rob has completed nine albums to date. His latest is a smooth jazz album titled “Days of Analogue” that pays tribute to musicians of the 70’s and 80’s. Like other artist’s work, Rob’s music is widely distributed via the internet (iTunes, Amazon, etc.) and he is well-known outside South Africa for his musical contributions. Since 2008 till present, he has been listed on Reverbnation.com’s top 10 for the jazz genre in Cape Town. Musicians and listeners abroad indicate a keen interest in his work.

As previously mentioned, throughout Rob’s performing career, he has been a music tutor. After having previously taught all age groups throughout his career, Rob decided to specialize in teaching young children. His “Little Mozarts” program for young musicians has received much acclaim from both parents and pupils. His current musical project for this year is a third album in the “Spirit Walk – Music for Meditation” series.

After many years of trying to get his music recorded and released in South Africa, Rob realized it was time to abandon his country’s music business and find another way. Today, listenership demographics  indicate his music is mainly listened to in the EU, USA, U.K., though listeners in Russia, Japan and other territories have also contacted him with messages of thanks.

Rob is strongly opposed to the underpayment of musicians by streaming companies and would rather make his catalogue available to the general public worldwide on his own channel than be held to ransom by those whom he views as destroying the music business. To ensure anyone from any country has access to his music, it may be heard on any digital device containing a web browser (iPad, iPhones, android, tablets, computers etc.) by going to robblainesmoothjazzradio.com. He is also deeply grateful to the international community for messages of encouragement over many years coming from musicians, sound engineers, composers, producers, record labels, performers, poets, lay people and music lovers of all genres — all very much appreciated!

Rob believes our world is changing, not ending and the suffering many are experiencing is the painful transition to a new world being born. He believes the politicization of everything (gender, sex, race, leadership, religion, medical treatments and countless more) and the efforts to solve these problems using politicized groups, has destroyed our society. For now, our world will continue to fall apart, so a new one may be established. We need to be brave, strong and have faith!