ROBIN GRANDIN - BMHOF CLASS OF 2021

Inheriting an old acoustic guitar and a Peter, Paul and Mary songbook at the age of 9, Robin taught herself to play.

 

“I was totally mesmerized.” Robin says, “I learned 3 chords and ended up writing dozens of songs! I still have all those notebooks - all those songs and so many more notebooks.”

 

After completing a college degree in music, she went straight to the stage with the band Pepperwood Greene and continued to write original, progressive, R&B, and funk music while performing in local venues across Western New York. Venues like The Old Tralfamadore Café, After Dark, McVans, The Circus Bar, Bona Vista, The Purple Moose, Uncle Sam’s, Stage One, Salty Dog, The Barrelhead, Mickey Rats, Bayview Beach Club, just to name a few.

 

“My first gig ever was at the old Tralfamadore Café – in the basement on Main Street in Buffalo.” Robin remembers, “Those were creatively great years. The songs just flowed…. I was writing 2 maybe 3 songs a day”.

 

In the spotlight with Pepperwood Greene, Clockworks, Ice Nine, Songbird, Prime Suspects, and The Touch she was known for her strong vocals and solid musicianship on acoustic guitar, electric rhythm guitar, keyboards and flute.

 

The rock n’ roll road in WNY led her to open for several hot local bands including Talas, Rodan and 805.  She even opened for Weird Al Yankovic.

 

 

 

During “The 80’s or the Buffalo Years”, Robin got the opportunity to record a number of originals and radio commercial/jingles at Select Sound, Loft Studio and Trackmaster (GCR Audio) and various other recording studios.

 

“Round and Round” a song written by Tony Genovese and Robin was placed on the 105 PHD Homegrown Album #3.

 

Joining the touring band Rainbow in 1986 she toured extensively throughout the US and Canada performing at some of the largest casinos and showrooms in Las Vegas, Laughlin, Dallas, Reno, Alberta, Edmonton and even right here in Buffalo at the annual One M&T Plaza event.

 

“Rainbow gave me the opportunity to play ALL the instruments that I loved – including bass guitar. I had 2 weeks to learn how to play the bass and go out on the road to play a 6 hour show at one of the largest casinos in Nevada! Talk about pressure!”

 

In 1991 Robin made the move to Nashville, Tennessee - “Music City”, the home of country music. She was a signed artist on an Indie record label, Rotation Records performing with her band Hurricane Jane.

 

Robin teamed up with drummer Lisa Romeo to become one of the founding members and the original bass player for Nashville National Recording Artists Mustang Sally.

 

Mustang Sally was one of Nashville’s premier Country recording acts playing

the top CMA venues and fairs nationwide in front of audiences of thousands, and sharing the stage along-side the likes of country legends George Jones, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless, Little Texas, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tracy Lawrence, Aaron Tippin, Confederate Railroad, Collin Raye, Sawyer Brown, Toby Keith, Delbert McClinton, Lorrie Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Highway 101 and many more.

 

“What an honor to stand right next to the legendary George Jones and sing “Rockin’ Chair” with him and his band! It was amazing experience!”

 

Mustang Sally showcased for RCA, Warner Brothers, and Atlantic as well as performed at The Long Hall in Printer’s Alley, Barbara’s, The 16th Avenue Café, and the Opryland Hotel, Nashville Hall of Fame, The Grizzly Rose in Denver, Colorado and Boomtown in Las Vegas, Nevada just to name a few.

 

She frequented The Project Room Studio and other local studios in Nashville laying down tracks for original songs and using top session players including: Herb Shucher (Randy Travis) Penn Pennington (Jack Greene) and Jerry Webb (Jett Williams, Little Jimmy Dickens, Neil McCoy).

 

Returning to Buffalo in 2006 and reuniting with two members of her former band Rainbow, Robin “Rocked the Deck” at the Italian Fisherman in Bemus Point, NY with The Volk Family Band (2006-2010) and her own Rockin’ Robin band (2010-2017). Her powerful vocals, acoustic and bass guitars, mandolin, tin whistle, and flute became her trademarks.

 

“My passion for playing and writing music has led me all over the United States and Canada and has brought me around full circle - back home to Buffalo and Western NY.”

 

Robin’s passion for music has taken her down many roads. As a professional musician, she was inspired to give back to the caring facilities that helped her mom during her journey through Alzheimer’s. The 2018 release of Robin’s single “Memories of the Heart” was written in memory of her mother.

 

Her non-profit, Music to Remember WNY became a partnered program with the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and helps to provide Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, Veterans, and their families with the healing power of music. Most recently, she’s heading up a new program for the BMHOF, “Hall of Fame Heals” hoping to reach out to a larger portion of the WNY Community.

 

~ Written by Paula D’Amico

 

 

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