BOB LUNA BIOGRAPHY
 | Composer /Arranger/Producer/Music Director/Keyboardist. Fluent in all styles of music. Dionne Warwick, Deniece Williams, Sister Sledge, Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones guitarist) Maxine Nightingale, Randy Crawford, Juice Newton, Frank Stallone Candido Rodriguez, Friends Of Distinction, The Grassroots, The Cascades. Filmography: (selected) The Thirteenth Hour Independent Feature Film The Pioneers Documentary The Promise of Tomorrow Documentary L A Greek Film Festival Logo music
Participation in master classes, recitals and diploma programs. Dick Grove school of music graduate in CAP and KIP programs. UCLA Film Scoring program. Bill Kettering private instruction(Conducting) Eimear Noone (Conducting) Other Skills/Additional Information Specialist in emulating a virtual orchestra in a live context. |
 | Bob Luna grew up in an environment of Classical Music in Los Angeles. An early memory was listening to Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody" No.2 (orchestral version) as he lay in bed to go to sleep. "The Nutcracker Suite" by Tchaikovsky was also a favorite. His mother would make up a game where each piece in the suite was analyzed for its musical content in regard to orchestration, tempo, melodic rhythm, etc. "What does this sound like?" his mother would ask him and his two brothers. "It sounds like someone who needs water crawling on the ground in the desert," came the reply describing the belabored piece, "Arab Dance,"from the suite. This would be followed by an improvisation of three young boys in an imaginary desert desperately looking for water. Piano studies commenced at the age of four with his great Aunt, a fine pianist, exposing him to classical works including “Shubert's Serenade,” which he loved to play. |
 | One night he was called into the living room to see a group of four musicians on TV with “funny looking long hair.” The music they were playing was different and very appealing. Subsequently shopping at every store with his family, a new “Beatles” album would result. Guitar lessons followed in grade school. Bob started his own group “Luna” and would spend painstaking hours learning favorite songs of guitar heroes note for note; such as Eric Clapton of “Cream,” Alvin Lee of “Ten Years After,” and Jimi Hendrix. This was excellent preliminary ear training and Bob was challenged by the expanding, experimental music trends of the late 60’s. During this time, he joined his older brother’s band “The Age of Confusion,” not as a guitar player, but as the organist. |
 | In high school he played with "Cannibal & the Headhunters." Their previous hit in the early 60’s was "Land of 1000 Dances.” Later, Bob was strongly influenced by Keith Emerson of "Emerson Lake & Palmer" because of his "classical chops," "orchestration of keyboards" and his use of a new instrument called the "Moog Synthesizer. " In 1974 Bob saw the group in concert and was amazed that so much sound was created by only three musicians. |
Upon graduation he immediately found himself on the road performing with several Show bands. In between road gigs, Bob was introduced to International Concert Pianist, Evi Martyn, and on the insistence of a friend, auditioned and was accepted as a student. During this period he participated in Master Classes, joint recitals, and Diploma Programs. Following, an opportunity presented itself touring with the "Grass Roots;" another 60’s band with a string of hits: "Midnite Confession," "Sooner or Later," "Temptation Eyes," and "Live for Today." | |
|
| Upon his return to Los Angeles, Bob decided to attend the Dick Grove School of Music and received comprehensive training during his first year in “Jazz Piano” and “Arranging, Composing, and Conducting” during his second year. A prolific period of arranging and producing for several artists followed. Some were in the Salsa style, which became a favorite to play and arrange. Others were in Pop, Swing, and R&B. Bob was recommended his by his friend (Drummer) Ronnie Ciago to Mick Taylor (legendary guitarist with the Rolling Stones) and later to Jimmy Crespo (guitarist with Aerosmith.) Shortly after, he met (Drummer) Rick Latham (famous for his book “Advanced Funk Studies”) and became a member of Rick’s Jazz/Funk group “The Groove Doctors.” He still plays with them today. Through another recommendation, Bob landed the “Keyboard Chair” with Dionne Warwick whom he stayed with for a number of years as Keyboardist/Arranger. Her catalogue of “hits” featured lush orchestration. Throughout these years, Bob’s task was to emulate an orchestra when the 7 member group was self contained. He accomplished this through an uncompromising work ethic; the same determination he developed back in the days of “taking down” his favorite “ELP songs,” (Emerson, Lake & Palmer.) When Bob finally moved on, two keyboard players were hired to cover the parts he did single handedly. |
 | Bob has also performed with: Deniece Williams, Sister Sledge, Juice Newton, Randy Crawford, Friends Of Distinction, Frank Stallone, Bruce Conte, (Tower of Power guitarist), A Taste of Honey, Peaches & Herb, Malo, Heatwave, Blue Magic, Barbara Mason, Barbara Lynn, The Moments, The Originals, Joe Batan, and The Inkspots.
|
