R. Van Jekich

In the beginning... R. Van Jekich's life began in Chicago, a place where his immigrant parents settled and started a family with two sons. This is where he ? known to many as ?Rob? ? spent his early years, and the trek west soon followed. Southern California is where he enjoyed his ?wonder years?, learning and growing his tastes in musical genres. Fascinated by the songs his father played on the old reel-to-reel, he was drawn into the field of music.

As a young boy he ventured down this musical path, in awe of the electronics and recorded sounds that were made on tape and by the ability to play the music back.

He was also intrigued by his brother's band, who practiced in the family's garage but restricted him from going in and watching the music in action. This was his first exposure to live music and laying his eyes for the first time on a drum kit, Rob soon started on the musicians' path. He picked up the Silvertone guitar his brother no longer wanted and taught himself to play.

A musical journey...
Rob joined his first band in junior high where he started out playing for school dances and gradually progressed to other bands and acoustic duo formats. These were the formidable years, where he would hang around local music stores and swap licks with staff. His taste and focus on music continued to evolve over the next 12 years. Rob's musical journey meant venturing into different styles of music, from folk acoustic to rock and roll to jazz. When he heard the tape of Jethro Tull's "Benefit" he was awestruck, never imagining one could create such sounds in a recording...this album had a huge impact on his musical style and development. This also led him to the European Progressive Movement: Genesis, King Crimson, Gentle Giant and PFM were some of his favorites Another of his idols was the bold, playful yet distinguished, Frank Zappa.

Rob's young adult life took many turns and offered many distractions, and he began to redirect his energies toward other interests. It wasn't until after he started a family and moved to the Pacific Northwest when his interest in music was placed back on the front burner. Rob picked up his bass guitar and became a part of the ?scene?, playing music in town and around the region with a few of the local bands. Fellow musicians and audiences alike came to recognize Rob and his musical styles that were unique, pure and more intricate than most they had encountered.

Success on stage & in film...
Not only did he bring his talents to the small stages of music halls and establishments, but he made his mark at bigger venues, including a debut of his original songs at National Cancer Day charitable fundraisers and performing on the main stage at the popular Boise River Festival.

Rob's most recent success is featured in a documentary film released in 2007. His music can be heard and his voice provided the narration for the award-winning film entitled, ?Abducted by the Wind". The short sports documentary which explores the adventures of snowkiting won a Silver Ten Award at the*F.I.C.T.S. Sport Movies and Television Festival in Mumbai,India and has received the "Guirlande d'Honneur" at the F.I.C.T.S.film festival in Milan,Italy in November of 2007. It has continued to be well received in the U.S. and abroad.

* Federation International Cinema Television and Sportifs
? Copyright 2007 R. Van Jekich. All rights reserved.