Rob Ickes

Widely known as among the masters from the Dobro or resonator guitar, Rob Ickes can be an instrumentalist that has made a name for himself in bluegrass, country, and jazz. Delivered in SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, California in 1967, Ickes was initially subjected to bluegrass and old-timey music when he was a kid, attending every week jam periods hosted by his grandparents. Ickes’ family members tried to curiosity him in playing the fiddle, nonetheless it didn’t consider. Nevertheless, when he was 13, Ickes noticed the Dobro function from the Seldom Scene’s Mike Auldridge, and youthful Rob was sure that was the type of music he wished to make. The youngster shortly obtained a Dobro of his very own, and got to learning the intricacies from the device. In 1992, Ickes made a decision to try his good fortune in Nashville, Tennessee, and shifted to Music Town searching for a profession. In 1994, Ickes became a founding person in Blue Highway, an organization that would continue to become among America’s most celebrated bluegrass groupings. That same season, he made an appearance in the Grammy-winning multi-artist record THE FANTASTIC Dobro Periods; the record found Ickes executing alongside such legends as Jerry Douglas, Tut Taylor, Josh Graves, Bashful Brother Oswald (aka Pete Kirby), and Rob’s hero, Mike Auldridge. Ickes also performed on another Grammy champion in 1994, I UNDERSTAND Who Keeps Tomorrow by Alison Krauss & the Cox Family members, which gained the award for greatest Southern Gospel Record. Despite his active plan with Blue Highway, who released their debut record in 1995, Ickes continuing to pursue fresh tasks. The International Bluegrass Music Association called Ickes greatest Dobro participant of 1996, and he’d go on to get the same honor a dozen even more occasions. In 1997 Ickes released his first single record, CRISIS, which ranged from bluegrass criteria to some cover from the Meters’ “Look-ka Py Py.” Even more solo efforts implemented, including Slide Town in 1999, What IT REALLY IS in 2002, and BIG STYLE in 2004. Ickes helped start the jazz-leaning jamgrass group Three Band Group, which also highlighted Andy Leftwich on fiddle and bassist Dave Pomeroy. Their self-titled debut premiered in 2006, along with a follow-up, Brothership, made an appearance this year 2010. In ’09 2009 Ickes teamed up with piano guy Michael Alvey and vocalist Robinella for another jazz-oriented discharge, Road Tune. And Ickes offered as an accompanist and program man for an array of performers, including Earl Scruggs, Merle Haggard, Kenny Rogers, David Grisman, and Don Henley. To get various other Dobro and resonator players, in 2007 Ickes arranged the very first ResoSummit, an annual three-day gathering of music artists, teachers, and luthiers. In 2012, Ickes documented a trio record with fellow Dobro experts Jerry Douglas and Mike Auldridge entitled Three Bells. Auldridge passed away shortly after documenting was completed, as well as the record didn’t show up until 2014. Ickes still left Blue Highway in 2015, exactly the same season he released Prior to the Sun FALLS, a cooperation with Trey Hensley. Both joined forces once again for 2016’s THE UNITED STATES Blues.