#357 - Interview: How to be an Unstarving Musician with Robonzo

About Robonzo: Roberto R. Hernandez (aka Robonzo) is a part-time professional drummer and vocalist, who performs with multiple bands throughout the course of any given year. While he’s most at home performing on a drum kit, Robonzo also regularly gigs with a Cajon, Djembe and other accoutrements of percussion. He’s worked with original artists and cover bands in and around San Jose, California since 2001. Although he’s a predominately self-taught drummer, Robonzo has in recent years become a student of the acclaimed online educator Mike Johnston at MikesLessons.com. Robonzo played his first gig at a college bar in Arlington, Texas. Within months of that first gig, he was performing throughout the greater Dallas-Fort Worth and the neighboring states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Thanks to two older siblings, Robonzo’s earliest music influences included The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Cream. In addition to his love of the 60s, Robonzo has always maintained a healthy interest in new music and emerging genres. On the business of doing business as a musician and an artist, Robonzo has also maintained an interest in the changing music industry. He recognizes a growing need to educate and help the next generation do more of what they love—make music. In July of 2016, Robonzo and his wife relocated to El Valle de Anton, Panama. Similar to his move from DFW to San Jose in ’99, Robonzo is poised to start over. He’s planning to foster and grow the live music scene in El Valle while researching ways to help other musicians around the world. Resources: The Unstarving Musician Podcast The Unstarving Musician Book The Slants self-titled release on Spotify