Manhattan native Rob Stoner (neé Rothstein) graduated from New York City's Columbia College in 1969. While still in school, his band was signed to a songwriting contract by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. During the early 70's, he became an in-demand session musician. He sang and played guitar, bass and piano on many recordings, including "American Pie" by Don McLean. In 1973, he began a career as a solo singer and songwriter, recording his original songs for Epic Records in Nashville. His rockabilly band, Rockin' Rob and the Rebels, became headliners on the national nightclub circuit and appeared on television. In 1975, Bob Dylan hired Rob as his bandleader and opening act for the Rolling Thunder Revue. He played and sang on several Dylan albums, including Desire, Biograph, Hard Rain, Live at Budokan and Live 1975, while touring with Dylan. Resuming his solo career, Rob released a critically acclaimed solo album of original songs on MCA Records. He also became the first non-Southerner to release an album on Sun Records and continued to tour and record with various acts including his own throughout the nineties. His compositions have been recorded by Link Wray, Johnny Winter, Shirley Bassey, Robert Gordon, and others. Rob has co-written three off-off-Broadway musicals, all of which were staged and produced in New York City. He now lives in Rockland County, NY, where he remains active on the music scene.

Rob at the Grammys Rob on Uncle Floyd Rob with Chris Spedding

Rob Stoner has appeared and/or recorded with:

Bob Dylan, Link Wray, Chuck Berry, Chris Spedding, Ringo Starr, Robert Gordon, Bruce Springsteen, Don McLean, Emmylou Harris, B.J. Thomas, The Jordanaires, D.J. Fontana, Carl Perkins, Tim Hardin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Roger McGuinn, Levon Helm, Billy Idol, Michael Brecker, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Doug Sahm, Ed Sanders (The Fugs), Gene Cornish (The Young Rascals), Sylvain Sylvain , Johnny Thunders (N.Y. Dolls), David Olney, Jerry Garcia, Kinky Friedman, Marc Ribot, T-Bone Burnette, Mick Ronson, Steve Ferrone, Jimmy Vivino, Anton Fig , Henry Gross, Allen Ginsberg ,Lou Reed, Bland Simpson, Bobby Neuwirth, Moon Martin, Jon Paris, Bobby Nathan, John Herald, Scarlet Rivera , Larry Campbell, Tony Garnier, Pete Farndon (The Pretenders), Topper Headon (The Clash), Kenny Malone (Elvis Presley), Richie Havens, Hank DeVito, Keith Lentin, Howie Wyeth, Bobby Chouinard, Murray Weintraub, Angel Rissoff (The Planotones), The Del-Vikings, Steve Holly (Wings), Denny Seiwell (Wings), John Siomos (Peter Frampton), Richie Cannatta (Billy Joel), Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Billy Cross, Don Covay, Hank Ballard, David Mansfield, Ian Wallace (King Crimson), Steve Gadd, Luther Rix, Tommy Allsup (Buddy Holly), Stan Bronstein (John Lennon), Paul Evans, Ronnie Hawkins Alan Pasqua(Tony Williams), Walter Davis Jr.(Charlie Parker), Gary Chester, Steve Douglas, Garland Jeffreys, Arlen Roth, Jake Jacobs, Bernard Purdie, Jennifer O'Neill, Robin Williams, Rick Derringer, Kenny Aaronson, Dan Rothstein, Rick Marotta (Steely Dan), Buzzy Feiten, Arno Hecht (Rolling Stones), Crispin Cioe, Chris Parker, Frank Vicari, Aynsley Dunbar, Rick Schlosser, Alan Schwartzberg, Sugar Blue, John Cale,, Phil Lee, Gary Burke(Joe Jackson), Mark Mothersbaugh(Devo), The Rugrats, and many more.

REVIEWS

Playwright/Author Sam Shepard, in his "Rolling Thunder Logbook" (Viking Press) called Rob "the brains behind the operation in Dylan's band", and wrote: "Stoner grafted harmonies onto Dylan like a Siamese twin."

Jonathan Herrera, in the March 2003 issue of Bass Player Magazine described Stoner's playing as "some of the mid 70's tastiest rock bass…choice fills and unshakable groove confidence…a lesson in bass playing."

Paul Williams, in "Bob Dylan: Performing Artist"(Underwood Books) writes: "Stoner's free, melodic playing has a magical, lyrical energy."

Jerry Leichtling, in the Village Voice: "Stoner's an amazing rock and roll mutant, sort of a cross between Jerry Lee Lewis and Fabian."

Steve Lake, in Melody Maker: "The very best rock and roll band in New York City at this point in time is a trio called Rockin' Rob Stoner and the Rebels."

Steven X. Rea in High Fidelity Magazine: "The first thing that hits you about his disc is the voice--a spooky, mesmerizing cross between early Elvis and Jerry Lee. It's an authoritative voice, suave, cool and full of rich expression."

David Fricke, in Rolling Stone, lauded Stoner's "High octane punkabilly, cool vocals and energetic, heady New Wave attack."

Anne Telford in The Daily Texan: "Stoner has a rich, romantic voice that wraps around his witty lyrics, wringing genuine emotion out of them."

A. Kirby in Variety: "Stoner has a rich voice with a somewhat romantic quality."

Ian White of International Musician Magazine writes:"On stage Rob Stoner is a master of the Precision Bass; He wields the instrument like a machine gun, throwing out rumbling riffs, chords and steaming patterns that seem like an amalgamation of every style in the book."