- Active: '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s
- Genres: Blues
- Instrument: Guitar
- Representative Albums: "When I Play My Blues Guitar", "Heart Made of Steel", "Stop This World
Biography
Northwest guitarist Terry Robb has played blues in many different formats through the years, including in electric and acoustic settings, with a trio, and as a solo artist. He began playing as a child, encouraged by an uncle who was a professional swing jazz guitarist. Shortly after he began playing, Robb became enamored with blues, ragtime, traditional jazz, and country guitar players, yet he developed his own eclectic style. In college at Portland State University, he studied music theory with Czechoslovakian composer Tomas Svoboda. After graduation, he toured with Captain Beefheart/Frank Zappa alumnus Rex Jakabosky, cutting his teeth on the Northwest's club and festival circuits. In the early '80s, Robb became friendly with the late folk-blues guitarist and composer John Fahey. Fahey later asked him to produce and perform on several of his recordings, and one of these releases, 1983's Let Go, (Varrick/Rounder Records), was cited by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top three releases of that year. He also collaborated with fellow Northwest bluesman Curtis Salgado on Hit It 'n Quit It (Lucky Records).Although he hasn't toured much nationally under his own name, Robb has an extensive discography. His sessionography includes performances on recordings by Fahey, Sheila Wilcoxson, Alice Stuart, Gary Burford, and Paul Brasch, among others. Robb's recordings under his own name include Sensitive Guy, Acoustic Blues Trio (1994), and Stop This World (1996) for Burnside Records, a Portland-based label, as well as Jelly Behind the Sun (House Records), Next Window (House Records), and Heart Made of Steel and When I Play My Blues Guitar (both Burnside Records). Most recently, Robb recorded Resting Place for the Memphis-based Yellow Dog Records. Robb has toured with Curtis Salgado, Steve Miller, and Buddy Guy. He continues to tour and record, mostly around Portland and Seattle. ~ Richard Skelly, All Music Guide
