Terry Robb

Northwest guitarist Terry Robb has explored blues across electric and acoustic formats, in trio configurations, and as a solo performer. An uncle who worked professionally as a swing jazz guitarist first encouraged him as a child. Once he started, Robb grew captivated by blues, ragtime, traditional jazz, and country guitarists while forging his own wide-ranging approach. At Portland State University he took music theory courses with Czechoslovakian composer Tomas Svoboda. Following graduation he joined tours with Rex Jakabosky, a Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa veteran, sharpening his skills on the Northwest club and festival scenes.

During the early 1980s Robb struck up a friendship with folk-blues guitarist and composer John Fahey. Fahey subsequently invited him to produce and play on multiple albums; one of those projects, the 1983 release Let Go on Varrick/Rounder Records, was named by Rolling Stone among the year’s three strongest records. He also joined Northwest bluesman Curtis Salgado for the album Hit It ’n Quit It on Lucky Records.

Although Robb has rarely toured nationally under his own name, his recorded output remains substantial. Session credits include work with Fahey, Sheila Wilcoxson, Alice Stuart, Gary Burford, and Paul Brasch, among others. Releases issued under his own name comprise Sensitive Guy, Acoustic Blues Trio from 1994, and Stop This World from 1996, all on the Portland-based Burnside Records label, along with Jelly Behind the Sun and Next Window on House Records and Heart Made of Steel and When I Play My Blues Guitar, both also on Burnside. His most recent recording, Resting Place, appeared on the Memphis-based Yellow Dog Records. Robb has shared stages with Curtis Salgado, Steve Miller, and Buddy Guy and continues performing and recording primarily in the Portland and Seattle areas.