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ROBBIE DUNBAR
ElEctronic PrEss Kit
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A child prodigy, Robbie Dunbar started playing the piano at the age of three and the trumpet at eight. After witnessing the British Invasion, he fell in love with the guitar and joined a popular Bay Area rock band, The Purple Earthquake, as their lead guitarist, songwriter and vocalist at the age of 13.
At 19, the band was signed to the legendary A&M Records in Los Angeles (by this time they had shortened their name to Earth Quake). Robbie then co-founded the fabled independent record label Beserkley Records (Jonathan Richman, The Rubinoos, Greg Kihn) with the royalties his band made from a song that appeared in the Steve McQueen/Ali McGraw movie “The Getaway.”
Earth Quake was a major headliner and key influencer of rock and power pop in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than a decade, performing with countless bands including Blondie, Iggy Pop, Tower of Power, Journey, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Jeff Beck, Aerosmith, and blues legend Albert King.
In 1974, Robbie and the other members of Earth Quake served as the un-credited backing band for Jonathan Richman’s cult
hit, “Roadrunner.” In 1975, Robbie performed and recorded with Greg Kihn and with pop superstar Tommy James. He continued with Earth Quake into the 1980s and then decided to pursue higher education, achieving a Bachelor’s Degree (UC Berkeley) and a Master’s Degree in Music Composition (Cal State Hayward).
In 1984, Robbie began performing as the lead guitarist/vocalist with drummer/vocalist Larry Lynch (Greg Kihn Band), in the popular Bay Area cover band, Larry Lynch & The Mob. They continue to perform throughout the region and are a popular choice for corporate events and wedding celebrations.
In 1998, Robbie’s family album, The Earth Is Our Home, was released on his own record label, Mindfull Music, and was nominated for a Grammy in the Children’s Music category.
Today, he leads Robbie Dunbar’s Magic Trio, featuring bassist Stevie Barsotti (Haymarket Riot/Lazarus) and drummer Derek Ritchie (The Liars, Sudden Fun), and maintains a busy schedule of performing, writing, teaching and recording throughout the Bay Area.
For more information, please visit https://www.tumblr.com/blog/robbiedunbar
“Earth Quake plays the ballsiest rock ‘n’ roll ever to
come from a Berkeley band.”—Robert “Razor” Blades, Berkeley BARB, Aug 1974BIO
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For more information, please visit https://www.tumblr.com/blog/robbiedunbar
“Founded during the mid-’60s and managing to persevere well into the next decade, Earth Quake was pounding out infectious power pop before such a genre even really existed.” —ConcertVault.com
“Lead guitarist Robbie Dunbar is one of the sharpest young rock guitarists you’ll hear anywhere, with fine control and a personal sound. The scathing licks he delivers on FRIDAY ON MY MIND should convince you.” — Jack McDonough, SF Bay Guardian, June 21, 1974
“For my money, Earth Quake are one of the most dynamic pop bands extant today.” — Greg Shaw, Phonograph Magazine, Sept. 1975
“ . . . some of the finest moments of rock & roll that I’ve ever seen, anywhere. That was one great rock band.” — Joel Selvin, reminiscing about Earth Quake, 2011
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MEDIA LINKS
“At their best, Earth Quake sounded like a supercharged power pop group with cascading harmonies and ringing guitars. Tunes like ‘Hit the Floor’ and ‘Don’t Wanna Go Back’ are right up there with Shoes or the Rubinoos for pure catchiness.” — iTunes review of “Sittin’ In The Middle of Madness: Anthology”
“Friday on My Mind” with The Rubinoos at Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, CA, August 7, 2014
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Friday On My Mind—live at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco December 29, 1974
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MEDIA LINKS
“Berkeley’s Rolling Stones, Earth Quake could have been one of the great rock bands of the day. Others on the same scene went further with less. The band was a long-running cornerstone of the East Bay rock scene.” — Joel Selvin, from his SmartAss blog, March 24, 2011
“Hit the Floor” with The Rubinoos at Todos Santos Plaza
Concord, CA, August 7, 2014
Interview at KALX with DJ Mack, September 28, 2014, Berkeley, CA
Live at KSAN Radio, San Francisco, CA November 22, 1975
