Robert Dillon, Ph.D., virtuoso fingerstyle guitarist, composes and performs energetic and innovative original acoustic instrumentals. Known for his command of the acoustic and classical guitar, Robert has a continual drive to combine the techniques and beauty of legendary masters of the guitar to his original works. Robert's honest and personable stage presence puts his audience in a state of relaxation and mesmerization. Robert combines a variety of guitar tunings with his unique fingerstyle technique to produce rich and expressive tones that are heard as three-dimensional melodies (foreground, middleground, and background) to create an almost "orchestral" sound.

Concert Quality Guitars:

• Traugott model R cutaway "custom-built" (steel-string) guitar (yr. 2000)
• Hernandis model 1a (nylon-string) guitar (yr. 1973)
• Breedlove Atlas 12-string model AC250/SM-12 cutaway (steel-string) guitar (yr. 2006)
• Regal Egyptian Resonator model RC-40CE cutaway (steel-string) guitar (yr. 2006)

Music Publications and Highlights:

• Discography:
  • Fingerstyle Guitar & Percussion (© 2005)
  • Christmas Classics (© 2004)
  • Renewed Memories (© 2002)
  • Classical Solos (© 2001)
  • Images From The Heart (© 2000)
• Printed Music:
  • Fingerstyle Guitar Instructional Book, Vol I, (© 2005) with music theory and notation, exercises, and instrumentals
  • Guitar Music Book (music notation and tablature) (© 2000) of the music on the "Images From The Heart" CD
  • Original Transcriptions from the "Renewed Memories" and "Images From The Heart" CDs
• Media Coverage:
  • Full interview on KATV Channel 7 "Good Morning Arkansas Show"
  • Full interview on THV Channel 11 "Arkansas Today Show", music from CDs are played during commercials
  • Locally heard on KLCC and KRVM in Eugene, Oregon
  • Featured in numerous newspapers, magazines, and on Internet web sites
  • Broadcasted over many radio stations and phone services in the United States
• Master Workshop on Big Lee "Leo" for the Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine, issue no. 53
• Endorsements:
  • Selected by the D'Addario Company to endorse D'Addario guitar strings
  • Selected by the Shubb Company to endorse Shubb capos
• Performances:
  • Performed extensively in the mid-continent states, and now on the west coast for many occasions (concerts, fine dining, weddings, art galleries, wine tasting events, special functions, etc..)
  • During the last 5 years, Robert has averaged 63 documented performances per year

Education and Background:

• Born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 29, 1958
• At nine, took private piano lessons. At sixteen, became seriously interested in the guitar and was primarily self-taught. Studied the guitar with Frank Martinez, a concert guitarist in New Orleans. Entered college at the age of 16. First professional guitar performance was at age of 18.
• B.S. degree in Earth Science from the University of New Orleans (1980)
• M.S. degree in Geology & Geophysics from the University of Missouri-Rolla (1993)
• Ph.D. degree in Geology & Geophysics from the University of Missouri-Rolla (1999)
• Geologist for Texaco Oil Company (1980-83) and U.S. Geological Survey (1984-99)
• Adjunct Geological Instructor for four academic institutions in Missouri (1994-97):
  Drury College, Maryville University, Columbia College, and Park College.
• Entrepreneur in the stock market (1997-present) and manages two financial web sites, which provide professional advice for individual investors, stock brokers, and mutual fund managers.
• Master guitarist, private guitar instructor, and composer and performer of new acoustic and classical guitar instrumentals (1975-present)
• Sports and hobbies include tennis, biking, hiking, ping pong, boating, and animals (exotic cats & reptiles)

Back Home