Robert Brent Rivkin is best known as Bobby Z, drummer in The Revolution, the band that accompanied Prince around 1978-1986.



Rivkin met Prince in the late 1970s as Prince was forming his first band for touring. Rivkin's stage name, Bobby Z., was derived from the nickname "Butzie" his grandmother used to call him.



Robert Rivkin / Bobby Z is also a successful producer who worked with Alexander O'Neal, Boy George, Latin Sounds Orchestra, Manhattan Transfer, Suburbs and Wendy & Lisa.



Robert Rivkin was acknowledged in Prince's self-titled album as being a "heaven-sent" helper. By the time the 1999 album was released, Prince was relying more and more on electronic drums and Rivkin had to adapt his style to operate these in concert. In 1986 when Wendy & Lisa left The Revolution, Prince also took the opportunity to replace Rivkin with Sheila E, but the split was amicable.