We need to raise $100,000 for Robin Sylvester!
Robin Sylvester, born in London in 1950, has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 40 years. He is best known for his work with Bob Weir & Ratdog. Although primarily a bass player, it is not so well known that Robin is equally adept on guitar and piano, as well as an accomplished arranger and recording engineer/producer.
He worked as a sound recording engineer in the 1960’s and 1970’s at many of the great studios in London, including Abbey Road and Trident. Inspired by Paul McCartney to play bass, he also used early synthesizers while playing with and producing his close friends Byzantium between 1971-1975. Robin also engineered several classic records for the legendary Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher and occasionally mixed Rory’s live shows too.
As a session musician while living in L.A. he worked alongside the famous Wrecking Crew saxophonist Steve Douglas, backing The Beach Boys, Ry Cooder, also recording with Phil Spector. Robin played live with Marty Balin, Mary Wells, The Shirelles, The Coasters, The Drifters, Billy Preston, Christine McVie, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Del Shannon, Freddy Fender, Steve Seskin and Vince Welnick’s Missing Man Formation.
In 2003 he joined Bob Weir & RatDog. Since the demise of that band a few years back, Robin has performed and recorded with countless musicians and bands in northern California and beyond.
Robin has been hospitalized for several months, several times in recent years. He has been waiting on a kidney transplant for a decade. Years of ongoing dialysis have subjected his body to ever-more profound challenges. His spirit, however, remains as strong and beautiful – as anyone who has ever known him will attest.
Funds will be used to offset his medical bills and vital living expenses.
Thank you!
I have been a fan of Robin since I first heard him with Missing Man Formation in the late ’90s. I have had the great privilege of performing and recording with him many times – Fragile Thunder, Chocolate Coffee Pot, “The Town That Still Believes in Magic,” and so much more!
This is an IMMENSE ask, so I need everybody to give a little and spread the word a lot. We have an anonymous donation of $5,000 to get things started! If ten thousand people each send ten bucks, we’ll have it made!
Update October 18: I just sent $30,000 over to Robin! Keep it coming!
