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1960 - 1976
Born Robert John Tognoni in Ulverstone, on Tasmania's North-West Coast in 1960, Rob's childhood was fairly sheltered from music
except for his mother's singing around home and her pantomime performances as "Al Jolson" in local community halls. Tasmania in the 1960's was isolated
and blues music was not that well known except for white country gospel music until the early 1970's.
Around 1972, Rob began to listen to his older sister's records and started to discover diversities of music from BB KIng, Billy Thorpe And The Aztecs, Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, Tony Joe White to Elton John and Slade. Rob didn't discriminate between blues, blues rock or pop...it was all great to his ears, it all seemed to have it's place. In early 1974 Rob suffered a blow that deeply affected him. His Italian immigrant father was struck by a car and subsequently killed. Soon after, Rob became obsessed with the guitar as an escape from his depression regarding his father's death. The defining musical moment in Rob's life was by chance at the age of 14 going to see a relatively new band on the scene touring from mainland Australia - AC/DC. He could not believe what he heard...this was it, this incredible power with high charged guitars. Rob started churning out those simple, basic power chords made famous by this influential band. But something else was developing...more than just the power chords. An emotive blues feel was becoming more evident in his playing and as quoted a few years later by a local newspaper journalist - "Rob could become one of the world's best blues players if he gets the right breaks..." Rob spent the 1970's absorbing and learning as much guitar as he possibly could jamming with school class mates and anybody else that would be willing. When asked by his concerned high-school headmaster what career path he was seeking, Rob simply answered.."Guitar player." |