Robby's guitar collection includes landmark prototypes and guitars recorded on hit songs. For this seven-year project, Robby lived with Les Paul and interviewed and photographed dozens of guitar icons including Jeff Beck, Slash, and Freddy King. Robby authored the matched-pair of books, " The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy, 1915-1963" and " The Modern Era of the Les Paul Legacy, 1968-2009". San Diego native Robb Lawrence is a music historian, collector, and guitarist extraordinaire. Erika supplied coaching and cheerleading as I pounded-out the Rock Heaven CD. We’ve recorded together, and I appear in her music video " What Don't Kill You". After 30 years with no contact, I found Erika online in 2012 and we have formed a superconducting bond. At her peak, Erika followed her heart, left entertainment, built a farm, and dedicated herself to honoring Nature. She moved on to a stellar modeling, acting, and recording career, highlighted in 1990 by her number-one hit in Mexico, " I Love You Baby", and performance at Madison Square Garden.
In 1982, she sang for an atomic-flash in Free Verse, where I couldn't believe I was sharing the stage with this mega-talent. Erika is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Gradually over the years, we evolved into the mutual friendship we enjoy today.Įrika Nann is a name you probably don’t recognize, and that is the most astonishing thing about her. Early-on, Gerry was teacher and I was neon-green student. Fortunately Gerry saw potential and became my advocate in this highly-seasoned band. In 1976 Free Verse broke up, and when Gerry, Chris Guerra, and Dan Rodriguez rebuilt the band in 1979, they auditioned me. And what a band! Free Verse had dominated Chicagoland during the 1970s and was on the verge of breaking into the BIG TIME! They had it all - slick songwriting, hot R&B vocals, blasting horns, fiery percussion, killer guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums, and looks that drove women insane! In 1974 they won Chicagoland's biggest FM radio battle of the bands playing Gerry's original, "Stay With Me Tonight". In 1980, Gerry Magallan changed my life path when he welcomed me into Free Verse, my first band. Emilio now busks at Union Station in comfy Heaven, where someday I’ll join you, Mel. One day, Mel handed me his guitar, taught me two chords, and changed my self-identity. Then he'd open his eyes with a gap-tooth smile: "Hey beautiful! If I were a thief, I'd steal your heart." $20 tip.
He played and sang every note, eyes closed, through steaming breath, with absolute conviction. Emilio made his living busking (singing for tips) on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and at Union Station in Chicago, where he was tipped thousands of dollars every bone-chilling Christmas Eve. I'll start by introducing five people in my personal Music Hall of Fame.Įmilio Nieto literally walked me by the hand to kindergarten, and onto my musical path. But most of my story is of good luck and joyous experience. The great stories are nearly always about someone overcoming adversity. Would you like to join a real-life 41-year music tour? If the answer is yes, jump on the Rock Heaven jet and read on!Įvery human life is a story worth telling. I played my first gig in 1980 and it's now 2021.
Click to listen to the Rock Heaven album on Spotify Story 41 YEARS AND COUNTING