From his first terrifying solo singing performance in 1967, at the tender age of 9, Rob has been belting out songs across all musical genres. This first song was Let’s Go Fly a Kite, from Mary Poppins (yes, Rob was a wide eyed dreamer even then) and was sung at the annual talent show at PS 113 in New York City. Rob was filled with fear with one leg wrapped around a piano leg because he was shaking so bad. He managed to get through the song in the school auditorium that day and his performance history would be fairly thin in the years to come. His love of music began in these early years as he crowded around the piano in his Grandparents' tiny New York City apartment. His grandfather played tunes from the roaring twenties to Broadway shows of the day to crooners like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett and Rob sang out among the voices of many uncles, aunts, cousins, and siblings. No gathering would be complete without renditions of Danny Boy or When Irish Eyes Are Smiling in honor of the family’s Irish heritage. Rob soon took up guitar and starting playing popular tunes of the day which included such emerging groups as the Beatles and folk artists Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul, and Mary. The die was cast, and the influence of the musical period of the sixties left its mark on Rob and his musical interests to follow. From the first time he heard Joan Baez’s Diamonds and Rust, he knew that he would always want to have a guitar in his hand and play something as powerful and beautiful as this song. Fast forward a few decades to college, marriage, three kids, divorce, a second marriage and divorce and the dream of playing guitar and performing is lost among the shuffle. The good news is that Rob now has plenty of writing material -at least enough for a mediocre country song or two. Never really considering the possibility of writing original songs, Rob attends his first music camp in 2001. Talk about a late bloomer, Rob never attended summer camp as a kid and his own children tease him mercilessly that Dad is off to “band camp”. The camp is called Meadowlark and is nestled along the serene and idyllic setting of Washington Pond in Maine. Rob writes his first song and many others follow in successive years at the camp under the guidance and encouragement of the wonderful and accomplished folk artist, Peggy Lynn. As the empty nest stage arrives, Rob finds more free time to compose and he struggles through the often painful craft of songwriting. In a definite” twist of fate”, he decides to take a songwriting class at the local university instead of signing up for the piano lessons he has always wanted to take. The title of the class, “Songwriting & Performing from Your Emotional Core”, draws his attention and the rest as they say is history. The class is taught by national recording artist, Delilah Poupore, who just happened to tour with these guys known as Loggins and Messina. Delilah’s approach and nurturing support of songwriting opens up a flood gate and over the next few years, Rob ends up writing over two dozen songs. Twelve of these songs make it to Rob’s first album, Little Boy at Heart, co-produced with Delilah and incorporating the amazing engineering talents of Michael McNerney of Port Media Studios in Kennebunkport, Maine. The album is a compilation of the twists and turns in Rob’s journey and honors all of those who have touched his life with endearing proclamations of love and pleas for forgiveness when he has come up short. The songs are honest and heartfelt and Rob’s tenor voice lets loose to the accompaniment of angelic backup singers and a host of incredible and diverse traditional, classical, and jazz musicians. ~"It has been quite the ride and to quote Helen Keller, "Life is either a great adventure or nothing." I hope that you all enjoy and can relate to the man y life experiences expressed in this musical autobiography. This CD is dedicated to my grandparents, Mary and Alfred Scanlon, who first instilled my love of music around the piano in their New York City apartment. Married for over 67 years, they were my first teachers of the meaning of love and are still the cutest couple I have ever met. Peace and good wishes to all."