Robert Fortune
Mandeville, Louisiana, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2004 | SELF | AFTRA
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Every bit, however, is true. “i’m kind of still in shock about it,” robert Fortune, guitar player and lead vocalist for the robert Fortune band, said when discussing the whirlwind career he experienced all before turning 18-years-old. “i didn’t even play the guitar until i was around 13-yearsold…i didn’t know why people liked us so much.
It’s a story that seems more likely to be written by Cameron Crowe than witnessed in reality. a story so fantastic you want to question the validity of every point.
Every bit, however, is true. “I’m kind of still in shock about it,” robert Fortune, guitar player and lead vocalist for the robert Fortune band, said when discussing the whirlwind career he experienced all before turning 18-years-old. “i didn’t even play the guitar until i was around 13-years old…i didn’t know why people liked us so much.”
While attending Mandeville Junior High School, Fortune was not dreaming of a rock star lifestyle. He was just a fun loving kid who was propelled toward it after a very unfortunate accident. an accident that now seems fated.
“i was at a Halloween party,” he recalled. “i remember my friends and i ran outside and i shut the sliding glass door behind me, but i forgot that i did that at the time. i turned around and went running back to the door, and went straight through the plate glass window.”
For two months he was confined to a hospital bed due to that moment. When his recovery time began so too did he unknowingly begin a career in music. That’s due to a visit from a family friend who came by to visit with a gift that would end up changing his life.
“Billy Gibbons [ZZ Top, guitar player] is like my Godfather and he had given me a guitar right around the same time the accident happened,” Fortune explained. “He brought the guitar to the hospital and told me not to play video games all day, but to learn how to play it instead.
“i didn’t put it down the whole time i was in the hospital,” he added. “Then, after i recovered, i just didn’t stop. i stared a band with my buddies in middle school and began writing songs. By the time i was 15-years-old, i was signed by interscope-Geffen records.”
just two years after he picked up a guitar for the first time in his life, Fortune was scouted by two record labels, eventually signing with Geffen. Every contract comes with a little bonus attached, however, the one that appealed most to Fortune wasn’t the one given out by record execs.
“mMy dad told me that if i got signed before i got to high school, i didn’t have to go and could be home schooled instead. i hated school at the time,” Fortune said with a laugh. “it was a couple months before i was about to start high school and that’s when he made the deal with me. i’m sure he thought that it would never happen, but then all of a sudden it did, and there was even a little bidding war because Warner Brother was interested in us, too.”
Within a year, the robert Fortune Band was recording an album, touring across the nation, and doing all the things for which most musicians only dream.
fortune first starteD WritinG Music in MiDDle scHool...by tHe tiMe He Was 15, He Was siGneD to a MaJor label.
“i remember thinking ‘why is this happening to me?’ But it was awesome!” Shortly after signing with the label, in 2007, Fortune’s family connection to ZZ Top afforded him the opportunity of a lifetime.
“When ZZ Top was inducted to the Grammy chapter in austin, Texas, we played a couple songs for that,” Fortune recalled with an “oh by the way” tone. “We had to play a couple of ZZ Top songs in front of ZZ Top! my drummer was throwing up back stage. it was the most nerve wracking thing i’ve ever had to do.” keep in mind that he was only 16-years-old at the time.
“We have video recorded of it, actually, but i can’t even watch it,” he added with a laugh.
The performance was enough to gain major attention from the band. The robert Fortune Band was then recruited as the opening act for a three month tour with ZZ Top.
They performed each night to sold out arenas across the nation.
“it freaks me out still because i was just in shock the whole time,” Fortune, who is genuinely humble and does not flaunt the experience in any sort of way, recalled. “it’s crazy because i try to remember back to that and it feels like forever ago.”
But with every great rise comes a fall. not long after hype over the band became notable, Geffen records dropped The robert Fortune Band. Since then, the three piece rock group has witnessed more than one rotation of members. The current lineup, however, is one that seems the most solid since its formation.
“Everything fell into place, almost,” he said about the current roster. “it just feels right.
You can tell we’re all feeling it.”
The robert Fortune Band is completed by Zach O’rourke (bass) and Garrett Whitlock (drums). Because Whitlock is a former member returned, O’rourke is the newest recruit, having joined a little over a - Where Ya At Magazine
Every bit, however, is true. “i’m kind of still in shock about it,” robert Fortune, guitar player and lead vocalist for the robert Fortune band, said when discussing the whirlwind career he experienced all before turning 18-years-old. “i didn’t even play the guitar until i was around 13-yearsold…i didn’t know why people liked us so much.
It’s a story that seems more likely to be written by Cameron Crowe than witnessed in reality. a story so fantastic you want to question the validity of every point.
Every bit, however, is true. “I’m kind of still in shock about it,” robert Fortune, guitar player and lead vocalist for the robert Fortune band, said when discussing the whirlwind career he experienced all before turning 18-years-old. “i didn’t even play the guitar until i was around 13-years old…i didn’t know why people liked us so much.”
While attending Mandeville Junior High School, Fortune was not dreaming of a rock star lifestyle. He was just a fun loving kid who was propelled toward it after a very unfortunate accident. an accident that now seems fated.
“i was at a Halloween party,” he recalled. “i remember my friends and i ran outside and i shut the sliding glass door behind me, but i forgot that i did that at the time. i turned around and went running back to the door, and went straight through the plate glass window.”
For two months he was confined to a hospital bed due to that moment. When his recovery time began so too did he unknowingly begin a career in music. That’s due to a visit from a family friend who came by to visit with a gift that would end up changing his life.
“Billy Gibbons [ZZ Top, guitar player] is like my Godfather and he had given me a guitar right around the same time the accident happened,” Fortune explained. “He brought the guitar to the hospital and told me not to play video games all day, but to learn how to play it instead.
“i didn’t put it down the whole time i was in the hospital,” he added. “Then, after i recovered, i just didn’t stop. i stared a band with my buddies in middle school and began writing songs. By the time i was 15-years-old, i was signed by interscope-Geffen records.”
just two years after he picked up a guitar for the first time in his life, Fortune was scouted by two record labels, eventually signing with Geffen. Every contract comes with a little bonus attached, however, the one that appealed most to Fortune wasn’t the one given out by record execs.
“mMy dad told me that if i got signed before i got to high school, i didn’t have to go and could be home schooled instead. i hated school at the time,” Fortune said with a laugh. “it was a couple months before i was about to start high school and that’s when he made the deal with me. i’m sure he thought that it would never happen, but then all of a sudden it did, and there was even a little bidding war because Warner Brother was interested in us, too.”
Within a year, the robert Fortune Band was recording an album, touring across the nation, and doing all the things for which most musicians only dream.
fortune first starteD WritinG Music in MiDDle scHool...by tHe tiMe He Was 15, He Was siGneD to a MaJor label.
“i remember thinking ‘why is this happening to me?’ But it was awesome!” Shortly after signing with the label, in 2007, Fortune’s family connection to ZZ Top afforded him the opportunity of a lifetime.
“When ZZ Top was inducted to the Grammy chapter in austin, Texas, we played a couple songs for that,” Fortune recalled with an “oh by the way” tone. “We had to play a couple of ZZ Top songs in front of ZZ Top! my drummer was throwing up back stage. it was the most nerve wracking thing i’ve ever had to do.” keep in mind that he was only 16-years-old at the time.
“We have video recorded of it, actually, but i can’t even watch it,” he added with a laugh.
The performance was enough to gain major attention from the band. The robert Fortune Band was then recruited as the opening act for a three month tour with ZZ Top.
They performed each night to sold out arenas across the nation.
“it freaks me out still because i was just in shock the whole time,” Fortune, who is genuinely humble and does not flaunt the experience in any sort of way, recalled. “it’s crazy because i try to remember back to that and it feels like forever ago.”
But with every great rise comes a fall. not long after hype over the band became notable, Geffen records dropped The robert Fortune Band. Since then, the three piece rock group has witnessed more than one rotation of members. The current lineup, however, is one that seems the most solid since its formation.
“Everything fell into place, almost,” he said about the current roster. “it just feels right.
You can tell we’re all feeling it.”
The robert Fortune Band is completed by Zach O’rourke (bass) and Garrett Whitlock (drums). Because Whitlock is a former member returned, O’rourke is the newest recruit, having joined a little over a - Where Ya At Magazine
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
Robert Fortune
Rock music, in its purest form, is what Robert Fortune is all about. His drive, passion and intensity belies his age. He has the chops of a seasoned veteran and, upon first hearing, one could logically conclude that hes been at it all his life. The fact is that Robert, at 20, has developed into a player, writer, vocalist and group leader with skills and instincts that many twice, or even three times, his age could only envy. Yes, his youth certainly makes for a point of conversational departure but his undeniable ability, his special gift reflected in the music, is what is certain to transform him from a curiosity into a phenomenon.
Robert was born in Memphis but moved to New Orleans with his family while still quite young. At an early age, he was taken under the ax-slinging wing of ZZ Tops Billy Gibbons. Billy befriended the kid when he was 12 years old and ultimately, inspired Robert to take up the guitar (while Robert was bedridden for months after an operation). Billy was the catalyst and as a result, Robert taught himself how to play guitar.
Robert's band is composed of drummer Garrett Whitlock (Orlando Florida), and Zach O'Rourke (Toronto Canada) on bass. Together with Robert, they recall some of the greats Jimi Hendrix , Cream, Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes and of course ZZ Top that have come before. Says Robert, We get inspiration from them - we put it all in the blender with fresh, new ideas and pour out our own stuff. We love what made and makes rock n' roll magic".
Robert music reflects his decidedly youthful point of view, while still developing, is anything but immature. While certainly influenced by his musical forefathers, his music is very much his own. You realize this the moment you hear songs such as "Cadillac", "Save Me", "Seven" and "You'll Come Back To Me".
This is the beginning.
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