Based in Melbourne, Roby graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts where he studied jazz. RobyÃÂs beginnings in MelbourneÃÂs live music scene took shape when he began performing with many different groups with varying styles, from playing reggae with The Gaia Band, blues with Bob Thorne and The Blues Bus, exploring electronics with artists Prodosonic while also performing ska with Strange Tenants singer Ian Hern. RobyÃÂs versatility began to be noticed and he was asked to join original rock alternative band Dry that soon landed them a record deal with Mushroom Records.
With a deep love of Soul music Roby juggled performing around the country with many of AustraliaÃÂs Soul cover bands featuring large horn sections, while continuing to develop the ÃÂstreet drummingÃÂ and ÃÂsolid driving grooveÃÂ. While an endorsee with Yamaha drums Roby travelled in 2001 to Japan to visit the Sakae Rhythm Factory in Osaka. This is where he truly fell in love with the Sakae Rhythm sound. Today he is a proud endorsee of both Sakae Drums and Koide Cymbals manufactured in Osaka Japan!
He has performed countless Clinic Workshops around Australia, directed innumerable large drum ensembles all over the country and written many articles for Australian music magazines. The artists Roby has performed and recorded with include Rhonda Burchmore, The Drifters, Guy Sebastian, Normie Rowe, John Forman, Enza Pentano, Rae Valera, Kelly Auty, Mick Pealing, Bobby Bright, Denise Drysdale, Johnny Young, Peter Couples, Jimmy Couples, Max Merritt, Andrew Harrison Quartet, Justin Connor and The Soul Passengers, Steve Boyd Revue, Miss Dorothy, Relax With Max, Reverend Funk, Grand Wazoo, Soul Sushi, Connor / Ryall and Corelli, Deep Blue Day, Andrea Marr, The Hold Me Downs, Random Jammer, Jeff Duff and many more...
Roby continues to perform workshops and teach all around Australia. His versatility sees him constantly performing live, recording and producing a variety of artists from Jazz to Rock in his own Recording Studio. The key to RobyÃÂs talent is that he is a player who teaches and not a teacher who plays.