ABBA

Bassist from Brooklyn, New York, who came from a musical family and whose dad and mom supported his musical aspirations. He started out on the piano and then gravitated to bass fiddle, acoustic bass, and, eventually, electric bass. His buddies and he started up a garage band and performed at parties and bar mitzvahs.

Roberto’s musical acumen did not go unnoticed by his music instructor, who encouraged his mom and dad to send him to the High School of Music and Art in New York, New York. Some of his fellow students included Bobby Broom, Omar Hakim, and Marcus Miller. He also attended the Julliard School, where his mentor was none other than bassist extraordinaire, Homer Mensch.

After completing his studies, he applied his education to the “real world”, performing at venues in the States and abroad, and caught the attention of the jazz-fusion outfit, Spyro Gyra. He became of member of the band in 1987, just in time to flex his bass chops on Stories Without Words. Then he hooked up with Michael Franks and went on a tour of Japan and the United States. Bobby Caldwell beckoned him to enlist in his band, and they continue a musical collaboration to this day.

Other artists with whom he has worked include Patti Austin, George Benson, Paul Brown, Randy Crawford, Hillary Duff, Al Jarreau, Michael Lington, Jeffrey Osbourne, Boz Skaggs, and Peter White. During his stint with Randy Crawford, he not only played bass, but co-wrote songs and served as musical director.

The CD era is brimming with projects on which he has put his own personal stamp, including Along the Way: The Best of Dan Siegel and Randy Crawford Live: One Day I’ll Fly Away.

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