Rob has played music on both keyboard and guitar since the age of 6 and has been a professional musician all his adult life.
For over ten years in the 80's and early 90's he was keyboardist for the hit tv show "The Cosby Show" and its spin off "It's A Different World."
Rob toured with R&B sensation Freddie Jackson in the late 80's before joining The Zen Tricksters.
Rob spent eleven years touring and recording with The Tricksters turning out two studio albums and playing live shows across the US and Canada. It was their second album, A Love Surreal, that caught Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh's ear.
Phil summoned Rob and Trickster guitarist Jeff Mattson to play a series of shows in San Francisco and then on to tour the country double billing with Bob Dylan. That band included drummer extraordinaire John Molo, boy wiz Derrek Trucks, and the ubiquitous Warren Haynes. The following year one of the great jam bands of all time was formed with Phil, Rob, John, Warren and the guitar giant Jimmy Herring. This band would forever be known as The Q (short for The Phil Lesh Quintet). They went on to tour the country for three years and put out one studio album, There and Back Again.
From 1999 through the present, Rob has been part of Phil Lesh and Friends.
In 2002 he joined with the original members of the Grateful Dead for the Alpine Valley reunion shows and then toured with them in 2002 and 2003.
In 2004 he joined Chris Robinson's New Earth Mud.
In 2005, he toured with Dark Star Orchestra after the tragic death of keyboardist Scott Larnerd and is still playing with them at the present time.
Rob has also toured with Ratdog and Government Mule.
During Rob's time in Dead world he became friends with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. They collaborated on 7 songs that would become Rob's first solo release,
"When We All Come Home".
You can purchase the cd or download all of it or individual tracks at www.robbarraco.com or at any DSO show.
Thanks for the great shows last weekend - I made all three -Utica, N Ton, & Rochester! Fantastic Trio- The energy coming from the stage made it! Thanks again!
Thanks for the great show last night in Fort Wayne! I can't wait to see you all again! Check out my photos, I got some really good ones of you all from last night and from last year!
Hey Rob! I caught the DSO at All Good and when ya'all came to play at the National in Richmond. I'll be at Innsbrook Pavilion too and I hope I can see you and give my old internet bud a hug there! (remember our chats on AOL?) Take care. dancer~
Whaz up Rob? Haven't saw you in a while. Maybe going to Allgood... I'll Decide Later! I put up some new tunes you may enjoy if you get a chance. Peace, Byrd
Glitter Graphics & Comments hope you are well rob! sorry i didn't get to catch y'all this time around. see you at some luvly point of paths crossing :) happy daddy day.
Thanks for the request! Looking forward to seeing you in July in Fort Wayne! Last years show was amazing! Check out my album called Dark Star 7-19-07! Keep on keepin' on man!
Rob, was good to see you in Denver (even though I was getting thrown out of backstage at the same time), great playing all weekend. Enjoyed the Alligator Friday night!
My Mom and I had a fantastic time last night! She said she felt the greatest connection with you and Kevin--who reminded her a lot of my grandfather with his expressions.
Awesome shows in Aspen Rob! Sorry I wasn't able to make it to the first show on Friday--got stuck in traffic for two hours!! Anyway, you all played great! Thanks!! See you on Wednesday! Mom comes on Thursday.
