Rob  Luke

 (9^th May 1987 – 20^th March 2007)

Rob first experienced ‘live’ music at his christening at the Salvation Army Hall in Sunderland at the age of four months. The army brass band played loud and long that day, but it was the drummer that gained much of Rob’s attention. It was no surprise that a few years later, Father Christmas should bring him a ‘junior’ drum kit to his home in Telford Close, High Shincliffe, Durham.

The novelty of drumming never wore off, but the skins on his little drums soon did and to the ‘delight’ of the neighbours, his 9^th birthday was celebrated with a full size drum set.

They were soon to be given their first public airing at Rob’s local primary school where he stunned everyone by performing a superb drum solo at the annual parents evening. These drums were to be cherished for the rest of his life and used on most of his future recordings.

It seemed appropriate that he should go on to ‘learn his trade’ as a percussionist with brass bands. Starting at the age of seven with Spennymoor Junior Band, under the firm supervision of Musical Director Sue Norris, he made his first public performance on 4^th December 1994 at the age of seven playing Christmas Carols to raise funds, at the entrance to Sainsbury’s store in Durham.

He went on to play mostly with Spennymoor and Ferryhill Town bands, playing on two albums and performing in the national finals at the Royal Albert Hall in 2000.

However, the strict regimental tempos demanded of brass band music tended to restrict his natural creativity and he was noted for trying to introduce creative rhythms into his performances.

His decision to depart from the brass band world was seen as a great loss as he had brought so much life and energy into their concerts and he had become a very popular character amongst fellow musicians and the audience.

He made his final brass band performance on 19^th May 2002 with Ferryhill Town Band at their local British Legion Club. He had played over 200 brass band performances and it was fitting that Sue Norris should be leading that final concert.

His involvement in musical shows came at the age of eleven when fellow percussionist and mentor Iain Wilson asked him to deputise for the show ‘Anything Goes’ at the Sunderland Empire. It was at that show on 5^th September 1998 that Steve Wharton of Spennymoor Youth Theatre Group spotted him. As a result Rob went on to make 58 performances livening up the orchestra pit of many local theatres by playing a wide range of percussion for their musical shows.

By now though, he was heavily into listening to other forms of music and had discovered the ‘guitar’. His first, a cream coloured Fender Squire bought from ‘EBGB’s music shop’ in Durham, became the real catalyst for his creativity. Not content with playing traditional musical chords he needed to be stretched and loved the idea of using alternative tuning. This became a major influence in his compositions and much of his music has been written in this way. It frustrated even the best of musicians as they often struggled to identify his notes and chords but Rob was unperturbed and continued to compose in his own style.

Having well mastered the drum kit, bass guitar, lead guitar, vocal and the ability to tinker with anything else that he needed, the next step was recording.

The study room at home became his studio and the place where the vast majority of his work would be recorded. He was content to spend hours putting ideas into his beloved ‘Tascam’ 4 track recording system.

The music that he produced was exceptional but he was reluctant to share it with others. He was modest and selfless and never went looking for praise. He was also a perfectionist, never 100% satisfied with his work. Only some of his closest friends  were privileged to share it.

After leaving Durham Johnston School his talents were well received at New College Durham where, with the support of tutors Mark Deeks, Ian Matthews, and bass teacher Ken Potter he passed his grade 8 music examination in bass guitar and drums and a distinction in his national diploma in popular music.

Whilst with the college he made two notable performances playing drums and bass guitar at The Sage Gateshead in 2005 and then, what would turn out to be his final ever public performance, on 19^th May 2006, ironically the same date he made his last Brass Band appearance four years earlier.

His overall college success and achievement opened the door to his degree course at Newcastle University.

It was during his first year at university, in the early weeks of 2007, that he became most productive with his writing, composing and recording. Many of his most compelling tracks would be recorded just days before he made the decision to leave us all behind.

His solo album ‘beach’ was released in September 2007. The nineteen tracks were meant to represent each year of his short life and in their own way told his story.

His second posthumous album ‘tuesday morning’ released 9^th May 2008 to commemorate his 21^st birthday, contains 21 of his original recordings plus two bonus tracks recorded when performing with previous bands.

He is an incredible loss to all that loved him.