Rob Cushing
Encyclopedia
Rob Cushing is an American
musician
and songwriter
originally from Hyannis, Massachusetts
. He is known for his ability to compose on and play on many different types of instruments, including guitar, keyboards, bass and drums while being able to carry lead and harmony vocals.
Cushing was born and raised in Cape Cod
, Massachusetts until after his parent's divorce in 1980 when his mother moved the family to New Bedford
, Massachusetts. He took up saxophone in his elementary school symphony band. It wasn't until another family move brought him out to Grinnell, Iowa
in 1985 that he began to develop a real interest in rock music, playing keyboards for a local rock band "Doublecross". In 1988, when he graduated from Grinnell High School, he made the decision to follow his older brother's footsteps into the Navy. For the next six years until his honorable discharge in the winter of 1993, he worked as a cryptologic technician (maintenance) third class for shore stations in Pensacola, Florida
, Naples, Italy, and Virginia Beach, Virginia
. During those times he not only continued to hone his keyboard skills but also branched out into lead vocals and guitar work. Most notably during his stint in Italy, his band "Destiny" opened for Sha Na Na
at a local USO show. Upon his discharge in December 1993, Cushing returned to his native Cape Cod.
While attending college at Cape Cod Community College
and later University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
, Cushing began playing in the groups "The Score" and "Division" in the mid 1990s. He also released in 1997 a 3-song EP "East to West (and back again" which received minor acclaim in Massachusetts before co-founding the famed Cape Cod band Singer Bad Dancer in 1997 with Jaclyn Stevenson, Jon Goodridge
and Pete Maguire. The band's high-energy onstage coupled with its remarkable musicianship helped gain it quite a following in the region. So much in fact, that their 2001 release "Pass The Sombrero" gained the attention of MTV
who used their song "Sweet Jessica" on their popular series "MTV's Undressed". A film production company, Double Midnight Productions of New Hampshire, used "Sweet Jessica" for their film "Nowheresville" later that same year.
In 2002, Singer Bad Dancer split, and Cushing went on to enter into the Boston music scene, joining up with Boston band Pure Fiction on keyboards and guitar, assisting with the release of their album "From All Sides" in 2003 before leaving the band in early 2004 to pursue a solo career full-time. In addition to touring the East Coast and Midwest extensively, Cushing also worked as a freelance musician, with such local artists as New Blood, Bleu
, and Juniper's Daughter and gaining further notoriety in the Boston area.
As of 2009, Cushing spends his time in both Boston and Cape Cod and has hooked up with several different Boston bands, including well-known Boston rockers Rocketscience
as well as a recent summer 2008 California tour with Boston faves Topheavy. Most recently he can be seen in the Boston area as fill-in musician for the acts Dana Labb and Drew English. His solo album, originally expected for a Q1 2008 release, has been pushed back to an unknown release date in 2009. In the interim, he has recorded the theme song for the relaunched "Cheap Seats" show on WCIB
-FM as a favor to Cheap Seats host and friend Cat.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
originally from Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...
. He is known for his ability to compose on and play on many different types of instruments, including guitar, keyboards, bass and drums while being able to carry lead and harmony vocals.
Cushing was born and raised in Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
, Massachusetts until after his parent's divorce in 1980 when his mother moved the family to New Bedford
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, Massachusetts. He took up saxophone in his elementary school symphony band. It wasn't until another family move brought him out to Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,218 at the 2010 census. Grinnell was named after Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and is the home of Grinnell College.- History :...
in 1985 that he began to develop a real interest in rock music, playing keyboards for a local rock band "Doublecross". In 1988, when he graduated from Grinnell High School, he made the decision to follow his older brother's footsteps into the Navy. For the next six years until his honorable discharge in the winter of 1993, he worked as a cryptologic technician (maintenance) third class for shore stations in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, Naples, Italy, and Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. During those times he not only continued to hone his keyboard skills but also branched out into lead vocals and guitar work. Most notably during his stint in Italy, his band "Destiny" opened for Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes....
at a local USO show. Upon his discharge in December 1993, Cushing returned to his native Cape Cod.
While attending college at Cape Cod Community College
Cape Cod Community College
Cape Cod Community College, known locally as "4-C's", is a two-year community college located in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. Cape Cod Community College was established in 1961, the second institution to open as part of what is now a 15 community college system in Massachusetts...
and later University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is one of five campuses and operating subdivisions of the University of Massachusetts . It is located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States, in the center of the South Coast region, between the cities of New Bedford to the east and Fall River...
, Cushing began playing in the groups "The Score" and "Division" in the mid 1990s. He also released in 1997 a 3-song EP "East to West (and back again" which received minor acclaim in Massachusetts before co-founding the famed Cape Cod band Singer Bad Dancer in 1997 with Jaclyn Stevenson, Jon Goodridge
Jon Goodridge
Jon Goodridge is a professional rugby union player for Bristol Rugby. He possesses an excellent long range kicking game and being left footed he gives the team plenty of options....
and Pete Maguire. The band's high-energy onstage coupled with its remarkable musicianship helped gain it quite a following in the region. So much in fact, that their 2001 release "Pass The Sombrero" gained the attention of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
who used their song "Sweet Jessica" on their popular series "MTV's Undressed". A film production company, Double Midnight Productions of New Hampshire, used "Sweet Jessica" for their film "Nowheresville" later that same year.
In 2002, Singer Bad Dancer split, and Cushing went on to enter into the Boston music scene, joining up with Boston band Pure Fiction on keyboards and guitar, assisting with the release of their album "From All Sides" in 2003 before leaving the band in early 2004 to pursue a solo career full-time. In addition to touring the East Coast and Midwest extensively, Cushing also worked as a freelance musician, with such local artists as New Blood, Bleu
Bleu
bleu or BLEU may refer to:* the French word for blue* Three Colors: Blue, a 1993 movie* Bilingual Evaluation Understudy, a machine translation evaluation metric* Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union...
, and Juniper's Daughter and gaining further notoriety in the Boston area.
As of 2009, Cushing spends his time in both Boston and Cape Cod and has hooked up with several different Boston bands, including well-known Boston rockers Rocketscience
Rocketscience
Rocketscience is a Boston-based power-pop / rock band, formed in 1998 by Weymouth, MA natives Andrew Galdins, Aaron Stein and John Barber. They were later joined in 1999 by guitarist Jon Towne...
as well as a recent summer 2008 California tour with Boston faves Topheavy. Most recently he can be seen in the Boston area as fill-in musician for the acts Dana Labb and Drew English. His solo album, originally expected for a Q1 2008 release, has been pushed back to an unknown release date in 2009. In the interim, he has recorded the theme song for the relaunched "Cheap Seats" show on WCIB
WCIB
WCIB , known as "Cool 102", is a Classic Hits radio station licensed to Falmouth, Massachusetts. It is owned by Qantum Communications. Joe Rossetti is the morning show host. Matt Pitta provides news from sister station WXTK and WCOD's midday announcer Janet Birchfield make up Cool Mornings...
-FM as a favor to Cheap Seats host and friend Cat.
Discography
- "East To West (and back again)"(1997)
- "Pass The Sombrero (w/ Singer Bad Dancer) (2001)
- "From All Sides (w/ Pure Fiction) (2003)
- "Dana Labb solo album (on keyboards) available on iTunes (2008)
- "Tosa Nua (forthcoming solo album) (2009)
Band members
Rob Cushing: (Solo) All vocals and instruments, (Singer Bad Dancer) Guitar/keyboards/vocals, (Pure Fiction) Backup vocals/keyboards/guitar, (Rocketscience) Bass, vocals, (Topheavy) bass, vocals, (Dana Labb) keyboards, vocals, (Drew English) bass, vocals.External links
- RobCushing.com - Official site
- Rob on Myspace - Rob Cushing at myspace.com