Robby Takac

Robby Takac

Robby Takac performing at the Molson Amphitheatre on July 25, 2010.
Background information
Birth name Robert Carl Takac, Jr.
Born (1964-09-30) September 30, 1964
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Origin Buffalo, New York United States
Genres Rock, punk rock
Occupation(s) Bassist, singer, songwriter
Instruments Bass, vocals
Years active 1985–present
Labels Metal Blade, Warner Music, Warner Bros.
Associated acts The Goo Goo Dolls, Amungus
Website www.googoodolls.com

Robert "Robby" Carl Takac, Jr. (born September 30, 1964)[1] is an American rock bassist and vocalist. Takac is one of the founding members of the Goo Goo Dolls, along with Johnny Rzeznik.

Background

Takac was born in Buffalo, New York and grew up in the Buffalo suburb of West Seneca with his parents and younger sister. He graduated from West Seneca East Senior High School in 1982. He graduated from Medaille College with a degree in Communications, with an emphasis on Radio Broadcasting. In his college years, he played in several bands and interned and worked at a local Buffalo radio station.

In 2008, Takac was named to the Medaille College Board of Trustees.[2]

Robby and his wife of many years Miyoko have a 4-year old daughter together named Hanna, who was born on January 22nd, 2012. He is also a fan of Japanese culture and often follows in Japanese customs. In addition, he is an avid collector of PEZ dispensers having collected close to 2000 of them.

Music career

Takac began his musical career as a member of the rock band Monarch, prior to joining the Beaumonts, which broke up in 1985. He met guitarist John Rzeznik through the Beaumonts and together they found a drummer, George Tutuska and started a band which they named the "Sex Maggots", with Takac as the lead singer and bassist. In 1986,[3] they changed their name to the more promotable "Goo Goo Dolls", and after three albums moved Rzeznik to the majority of lead vocals. In late 1994, Takac and Rzeznik fired their first drummer, George Tutuska; and in early 1995 hired Mike Malinin as a replacement. Later that year they received their first commercial success with the single "Name". The 1998 follow-up "Iris" reached number one on several charts, including the Hot 100 Airplay.[3] Goo Goo Dolls have been releasing music and touring continuously since.

In 2009, the band recorded "Something for the Rest of Us" in Buffalo, New York, at their studio Inner Machine Studios. That year, Takac opened the studio to the public as GCR Audio.[4]

Side projects

In 2003, Takac joined with Brian Schulmeister to form the dance music collective Amungus.[5] That same year, Takac started his own record label "Good Charamel Records" in Buffalo, New York.[6] With an initial focus on local acts, the first three bands signed to the label were Klear, The Juliet Dagger, and Last Conservative. Today the label primarily releases J-Rock music in North America by female-fronted bands such as Shonen Knife, Tsushimamire, Lazy Guns Brisky, and MOLICE.[7]

In 2004, Takac founded the Music is Art Festival, a not-for-profit organization, and operates as their President.[8] MiA seeks to explore and reshape music's cultural, social, and educational impact on the community.[9] Active throughout the year, MiA is supported by a multitude of programs, concerts, and events, ranging from collecting and donating instruments to local schools, mental health awareness tours, music industry education, among others.[10]

Equipment

Takac primarily plays Yamaha BB-series bass guitars, but he has also played Fender and Zon bass guitars.[11][12]

References

  1. "Today in History - Sept. 30". ABC News. 6 November 1982. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  2. "Medaille College Board of Trustees". Medaille.edu. 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  3. 1 2 "Second Cup Café: GooGooDolls". CBC News. 9 December 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  4. "Goo Goo Dolls Record CD in Buffalo". WKBW-TV. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  5. "Local music does festival proud as B-52s headline an eclectic mix". The Buffalo News. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  6. "Good Charamel Records website". Goodcharamel.com. 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  7. Jackie Backman (2004-01-09). "Goo Goo Dolls - Robby Takac". TheCelebrityCafe.com. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  8. Archived April 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. "HARD ROCK: Concert series stages finale". Niagara Gazette. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  10. "Music is Art Festival at Albright Knox Gallery Buffalo, NY September 12, 2010". Backstageaxxess.com. 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  11. Bass Artists. Yamaha Corporation of America. Archived February 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. Robby Takac. Zon Guitars.
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