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Performing Artist
Clinician
Educator
 Rob has toured with countless musicians performing literally hundreds of live shows in Europe and the USA, as well as doing extensive live and recorded work in France. He has teamed up with artists and groups to perform in different musical styles such as Rock, Pop, Funk, Blues, Jazz, Metal, Electro, Jungle, Reggae, Folk and more.
While still at high school, Rob performed live in different groups playing such challenging music as Rush, Genesis, King Crimson, Yes and other progressive groups. After high school, he formed other groups playing modern pop and rock music as well as playing for Jazz and Big Band formations at Leeds College of Music. During his years at the college, Rob also started touring in Europe and the United States with St Christopher, as well as playing extensively with the Rob Donnelly Blues Band, King Ivory Blues Band, Ska group Jabberwocky and performing regular sessions for many other musicians in the north of England.
 Eventually relocating to southern France, Rob immediately started touring with eclectic Marseille based group Watcha Clan with whom he remained from 2000 until 2007, playing on two studio albums and two live albums. Rob played with the group for the “Nomades AKA” tour and the “Le Bastion” tour taking the group throughout France and abroad. At the same time Rob continued with local sessions, recording work and live performances with numerous groups in France.
After touring with Watcha Clan, during the summer of 2008 Rob recorded the drum sessions for the album “Nationalité Vagabonde” for Rumanian singer, actress Rona Hartner as well as performing several dates at the end of the year followed by playing drums on the “Nationalié Vagabonde” tour in 2009 after the release of the album.
During the same period, Rob teamed up with blues guitarists Vincent and David Hofmann and bassist Gerard Roustan to form the powerful blues rock outfit Hofmann Family Blues Experience. Rob played on the albums “Blues Heritage” in 2008 and “When the Guitars Slide the Blues” in 2009 as well as touring extensively with the group to support the two albums.
Rob recently recorded Belgian singer songwriter Therese Themlin’s new album “D’ombres et de Lumiere” as well as performing acoustic and electric live sessions with the singer. He also continues to play live shows with Hofmann Family as well remaining highly active on the scene with independent live sessions for St Christopher, Jean Michel Kajdan and other projects.
Selected Liveography:
• Rona Hartner
• Hofmann Family Blues Experience
• Watcha Clan
• Les Squaws
• Therese Themlin
• The Rob Donnelly Band
• St Christopher
• Hengist Pod
• King Ivory Blues Band
• Jabberwocky
• Silverhaze
• S.O.N.
• Outside
• Sally French
• What Else
• Jean Michel Kajdan
Selected Discography:
• Rob Donnelly Band: “No Unnecessary Grooving”
• Thérèse Themlin: « D’Ombre et de Lumière »
• Hofmann Family Blues Experience: “Blues Heritage”
• Hofmann Family Blues Experience: “When The Guitars Slide The Blues”
• Isis Child : « Ailleurs »
• St Christopher : « Ce Soir »
• Watcha Clan : « Live au Cabaret Rouge »
• Watcha Clan : « Nomades AKA »
• Watcha Clan : « Le Bastion »
• Watcha Clan : « Live Injection »
"Rob brings together technique and feeling, power and precision, demonstrating a musical approach, always putting the music and the song first. The sign of a great musician."
Vincent Hofmann - Hofmann Family Blues Experience.
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"Rob collaborated on the recording of my second album and is now creating ideas for the song arrangements that we are currently working on. He is dedicated to his work and is capable of adapting with speed and competence to all styles of music. It’s a great pleasure to work with him."
Therese Themlin - singer, songwriter.
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"I met Rob at a masterclass in July 2009.
It was a great pleasure to play with a sensitive musician that listens to others and is very reactive. I come from the club scene and I find these qualities are essential for expressing lively music based on improvisation and playing dynamics such as Jazz and Blues."
Jean Michel Kajdan - solo artist, Didier Lockwood, Jacques Higelin, Eddy Mitchell
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