Robbie Laws


Robbie burnin' on his Mary Kay Strat, June 9, 1995, Bojangles, Portland, OR

Muddy Awards:

 

BIO

    Born Robin Michael Shelton, Sept. 5, 1953, in Portland, OR, Robbie began his performing career as front man for a psychedelic art band in 1969. He didn't know how to play guitar then, and just basically "jumped around a lot and made weird noises."

"I didn't pick up the guitar until after high school," says Robbie. "My best friend's brother needed someone to strum an electric guitar, so I agreed. Then I found out I couldn't put it down."

Robbie litterally ate, slept and drove around with a Stratocaster in his hands, teaching himself all the rock and roll licks he could hear. He was ravenous for music theory, and learned everything from books and talking with other guitarists. He became a virtuoso, and by 1984, Robbie won runner up in the Portland "Blazing Guitar Contest" for copping Yngwie Malmsteen leads note for note, nuance for nuance.

Robbie grew bored with metal, and took off after the blues. "That's where the soul is," sighs Robbie. "All that technical shit is cool to have on hand, but the real music is the blues."

When Albert Collins landed in town around 1988, Robbie ended up drinking and playing cards with him for a week. They swapped stories and hot licks and Robbie found out first hand what a true bluesman was like. Robbie comments, "He was fantastic. I learned a great deal from him. He was a man of great love and great soul."

Robbie founded Delta Haze shortly thereafter, writing several original blues and rhythm and blues tunes and recording them in that band. He then moved on into the Margo Tufo Band in 1992 and toured England and the West Coast. As he became the star of the show with his impressive stage presence, likable personality and terrifying chops, Robbie's fans encouraged him to form his own band.

So, in late 1993, Robbie called up his childhood buddy Jeff Metzner, who then got a hold of his bass buddy, Jake Rose, who knew a drummer, and the band was born. When Boyd Martin became available in early '94, Robbie eagerly signed him on as drummer. With this trio lineup the Robbie's Urban All-Stars captured "Best New Band" for 1994 at the Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards, and in 1995, won the coveted "Best Contemporary Blues Band" AND "Best Northwest Recording," as well as a nominations for "Best Guitar" for Robbie, and "Best Drummer" for Martin. The band was getting well deserved heavy airplay locally on KGON-FM and KBOO-FM, as well 13 stations nationally.