Li'l "Rocket" Robert

Robert's folks bought him a mini Strat last May after he played Apache at a "3 Counties Shadows Meet" (UK) in April 2003.

His dad had promised him the guitar (he had been playing a cut-down acoustic) once he learned to play Apache ... which was the first tune Li'l Robert chose to learn.

With his new Fender in hand, Li'l Robert practised like crazy and was invited to play at the Warwick (UK) Shadows Meet.

We all want Li'l Robert to know that we're real proud of him. And we're proud of Mum and Dad, too, for encouraging another young guitar picker, so the music lives on.

"Good On'ya Mate!!"

Li'l "Rocket" Robert

“Robert is now 6 yrs old.   He first saw a family friend playing an acoustic guitar when he was 3, and by 5yrs he was wanting a guitar.  He only knew acoustic but already enjoyed R & R music…this was when he heard Cliff & the Shadows.  He asked me who was playing the music, so I told him what I Knew about the Shadows (it wasn't much).  I managed to get a video of Hank.  Robert was glued to it.  He had no idea guitars could sound or look like this.

Robert got his mini acoustic that Christmas (good job I didn’t get the toy guitar I saw). He wanted to see Hank Marvin on tour & insisted on taking his guitar to get it autographed.  He got his way, and Hank obliged with an autograph.  On leaving the theatre he said “only Bruce, Jet, Brian, Licorice & Tony to go!”

Last year (2002) we went to Shadowmania, & there Robert got most of the rest of the autographs he wanted on his little guitar. Even Cliff agreed to autograph his guitar for him when he was touring.

February this year (2003) I finally managed to find a guitar tutor for Robert & that’s when he started to learn constructively.  I had tried the ‘teach yourself’ books, but if I couldn’t grasp it, how could I possibly show Robert.  At this point I even got myself a guitar to try & learn.

The rest is as you know - 8 weeks after starting lessons Robert played at the 3 Counties meet, got his mini Strat, & then a week later played at Warwick.  He's now working on FBI & wants to do Flingel Bunt next.

Aside from his music, Robert is a normal active boy, loves football - but doesn't have a special team.  He is an avid reader, enjoys computer games & is interested in flying (parental influence there) & hates not getting his own way. He has just finished yr 1 at school where very few know he plays guitar (he says no one’s interested).

Robert also likes Queen, & a new band in the UK called Busted (very popular with the young ones!).”

 - Jayne Houston (July 22, 2003)

Look what Santa delivered!

Christmas 2003

L'il Robert gets a multi-effects pedal

and the small music clip you are hearing

was recorded 26 February 2004

~

Recording Engineer - Jayne Houston

Technical Director - Dr 'Swan Lager' Spike