Biography
Robert Hill was born at a very early age, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. As the story goes, whenever someone from the city of Little Rock, (on the other side of the Arkansas River), had something they wanted to get rid of, say, a car, a dog , or maybe a body, they would drive it over the bridge to the NLR side and dump it. As a result of people dumping, particularly dogs, the town gained the distinguished nickname of “Dogtown”. It made the people proud.
Whether he was " asked" to leave the state by
local officials, or left on his own accord, Hill moved to the Northeast, where he played with local NYC band, The Bluesicians, sharing the stage with numerous national acts, and drunks of all ages.
Here he formed the first incarnation of the Robert Hill Band, performing exclusively his own material, and released the cleverly-titled debut cd, "Robert Hill", to excellent reviews. He says many of the songs are autobiograghical, just not necessarily about him.
His latest release, “My Corner”, is a showcase not only for his exceptional writing, but also for his mastery of the acoustic guitar, and soulful vocals. The title song, “My Corner”, won first prize in the AAA / Americana category of the 10th Annual Unisong International Songwriting Competition. Two other songs on the cd, “Angelina”, and “Another Chapter” have also won acclaim in the ISC, and 11th Unisong competitions.
The section of the country Hill grew up in possesses a unique gumbo of musical styles: urban and deep Delta blues, bluegrass, oldtime country, zydeco, ragtime, cowpunk, gospel, even a polka or two in spots.
When you mix it all together, they just call it Rock and Roll. Johnny Cash was born there - what else needs to be said?
"Hill's aggressive slide playing over a rough-and-ready backing track makes us want to slam down some moonshine and start a ballroom blitz. It's intense and relentless, and Hill's slide tone is fat, edgy and fabulous."
Guitar Player magazine
June 2009
CREDITS INCLUDE:
Winner in 3 Categories of The 12th Annual Unisong International Songwriting Contest - May 28, 2009
I was a top 20 finalist in the following categories:
1. Social/Political for:
"First To Fight"
2. AAA/Americana for:
"Love Has No Boundaries"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBwxKSJggwY
3. Lyrics Only for:
"Love Has No Boundaries"
Hill’s song, “Long Rain”, was featured in the Smirnoff Ice commercial, “Rope”, which aired during the 2002 Super Bowl game, and continued to run internationally for several years.
His instrumental, “Slide On Rye”, also an award-winner, is currently being used in an episode of, “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy”, running internationally.
Second place winner in the First Annual Slide Guitar Festival, acoustic competition, held in Brevard, NC.
This was a national competition.
Numerous award-winning songs in several songwriting competitions including: Billboard, ISC, and Unisong.
Instrumentation
Robert Hill-vocals, guitar, harmonica, gravy
Mark Murphy- upright and bowed bass
Joanne Lediger- vocals
Frank Pagano- drums
Ilya Maslov- keyboards
Discography
VIEW LIVE PERORMANCE VIDEOS AT: http://www.youtube.com/user/radiotoneslide
4-14-08 My song, "My Corner", is placed in the top most requested section of XM Radio show, "The Loft".
4-7-08 Currently in rotation on XM Radio show, "The Loft", as well as WUMB Boston.
My Corner" debuts at #19 on the Roots Music Report! - January 11, 2008
2-22-08: Charting at #32 on the RMR Folk top 50.
http://www.rootsmusicreport.com/2.0/charts.php?name=folk
Being put into rotation in Americana/AAA/Folk stations across the country- 3-03-08: Currently been played on over 100 stations.
Radio play- Jan. 7, 2008- In the Top 5 most added as reported to the AMA. Go to: http://pdf.rronline.com/Americana/Americana-20080107-2522.pdf?userid={EmailAddress}
"My Corner", released November 2007, is composed of 10 original songs by Hill. In the Americana/SS vein, three of the songs are already award-winners. The cd has recently been put into rotation in Americana/Folk stations across the country.
Hill's debut cd, released in 2000, is the self-titled, "Robert Hill"- sound clips available at: www.roberthillband.com.
Hill's track, "Ozark Passage", is also included on the Tribes Hill Kindred Folk Vol. #1 compilation cd. Tribes Hill is a collection of lower Hudson Valley musicians- go to: http://www.tribeshill.com for more info.
Hill also hosts a concert series at The United Methodist Church in Midland Park, NJ, one Saturday a month. Performers past and future have included, Terence Martin, McMule, Pat Wictor, Hope Machine, Joe Crookston, Kathleen Pemble, and many more.
I have had original tracks air on international TV commercials & shows for Smirnoff Ice, Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, the soundtrack for an award-winning PBS documentary, & PSA's.
Composed soundtrack for award winning PBS Film Documentary, "BURLEY"- the story of a North Carolina tobacco farmer.
Our track, "Slide On Rye" is the theme song for the
weekly Australian radio show, "Blue Country".
Links
| http://www.roberthillband.com |