ROBERT MATTER

I have just released a new CD entitled “DYRKH”. DYRKH stands for Do You Really Know Him? Not long after I moved back to Iowa several friends of mine remembered that I had written some songs back in the early 1970’s and they asked me if I was still performing them. I told them I wasn’t and they encouraged me to revisit them and think about singing them once again. So I pulled several of them from my archives and began to warm up to them again. I then shared with my friends other songs I had written…

At the end of November of 2012, I underwent a heart by-pass operation. Since then I have been recovering and I am getting stronger every day. My surgery was nearly textbook in its execution and the doctors and nurses looking after me did a wonderful job. I was lucky that I did not have a heart attack and the procedure was done just in time to keep that from happening I spent the month of December and the first half of January following my doctors orders. I was not allowed to play my guitar until the…

I am excited about a new song that I have written with a fellow musician friend of mine. His name is Franklin Taggart and lives in Loveland Colorado. We met many years ago while performing at a festival in Virginia. The song is called “The Winds of Missoula” and he may be making a recording of it soon. I will keep you posted on its progress.

As summer comes into view Robert has been very busy. He continues to work on a solo basis and with the group Soundogz. Hopefully, Simple Twist of Fate (his folk-rock duo with Bob MachMuller) will be performing soon at a venue near you. The group Future Road has taken a break for awhile due to conflicting work schedules. But in the meantime, Robert has been working with a trio called Above Ground. Above Ground consists of two guitarists, a female singer and lots of harmonies. They do a wide range of…

On May 7th, 2011 Robert will be attending a songwriter workshop in Des Moines Iowa. The workshop is being lead by Steve Seskin. Steve Seskin has written seven number one songs, including Grammy-nominated “Grown Men Don’t Cry,“ recorded by Tim McGraw, and “Don’t Laugh at Me,“ winning NSAI Song of the Year and Music Row Magazine Song of the Year in 1999. Robert is looking forward to this one day workshop. He enjoys the songwriting process and participating in songwriting workshops is one of his favorite…

Robert has been busy working with several groups as well as continuing with his solo endeavors He has established a folk-rock group with his old high school musician friend Bob MachMuller. This entity is called “Simple Twist of Fate” and they are playing some of the best folk-rock songs from the 60’s and 70’s Also, he has recently joined a country/rock band called Soundogz. Robert is playing bass guitar and adding some strong background vocals. Occasionally, he pulls out his acoustic guitar and…

A lot has happened since my last update. I have moved again. I was living in a rented farm house in the country but decided I needed to move into the city in order to be closer to the music scene. So I have moved back to my hometown of Council Bluffs Iowa I have been working with an old high school buddy of mine, Bob MachMuller. Mac and I played together in a band when we were in high school. He is a wonderful guitarist and adds some very nice guitar accompaniment to what I do. It's nice to be…

I have recently moved from Virginia back to my home state of Iowa. I am in the process of settling in and getting reacquainted with the area. I am excited by the changes and the challenges that I will encounter within the next few months. In many ways I feel like I am “starting over” but in other ways I feel like I am right at home At the moment I do not have any performances scheduled. I am taking my time getting established in the local music scene. I’m getting moved into my new living quarters…

On May 29th 2009 the World Premiere of a play by Bill Jenkins entitled "Hearts Full Of Tears", will be presented by 40th Street Stage in conjunction with The Virginia Center For Public Safety in Norfolk Virginia. "Hearts Full Of Tears" deals with how a family reacts to the loss of a family member due to gun violence At the beginning of the May 29th performance, I have been invited to perform the song "Right Goes Wrong" written by Eugene Lempert a member of The Virginia Center For Public Safety. I…

"Closer To My Dreams" is now avavilable for purchase from cdbaby.com. To make it easier for a lot of you, it is also available in the digital download format. Purchase your copy of "Closer To My Dreams" today from cdbaby.com.