J Robert
Early Life
Julius Robert Houghtaling, known as J.Robert, is a multi-instrumentalist,singer-songwriter/film score composer, born 4th generation Florida family, in Bradenton, Florida July 21, 1949. From 1949-1967, J.Robert’s childhood was spent listening to classical, jazz, pop, country. By 1967-1972, J.Robert attended the University of Idaho, and worked summers with U.S. Forest Service as well as several cattle ranch-hand experiences where he studied bluegrass and old time style music from the masters at the National Old Time Fiddle Championships in Weiser, Idaho. Later, J.Robert and his friends won 1st place in the Idaho State Battle of the Bands with their Herb Alpert “Tijuana Brass" style jazz band.
Carrer
J.Robert was invited to move to Los Angeles, California by American singer and producer Curt Boettcher (of the Association, Beach Boys producer) to explore and share songwriting techniques. While in L.A. J.Robert played coffeehouse open-mic nights in San Francisco as well as the Los Angeles, California, “Troubadour” and “Ice House” clubs, where he met Tom Waits and Steve Eaton and was further inspired to write contemporary folk/pop style songs.
J.Robert joined and performed with the U.S. Northwest regionally famous “Tarwater” Band from 1973 - 1977 and performed Texas Swing jazz and big band country style while traveling the Northwest club circuit of Boise, Idaho, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Salt Lake City, Utah, and appearing in concert with many well-known country artists including Charlie Daniels, Doug Kershaw, Hoyt Axton, Vassar Clements, and Bonnie Raitt.
In 1977-1980, J.Robert and Billy Liles, of Boise, Idaho, formed the popular but under the radar, "Bob & Bill Trio" Show, exhibiting eclectic jazz, swing, blues, punk, and participated in the Northwest, performing extensively in Boise, Sun Valley, and Sand Piper Showcase coffee house & ski resort circuit.
1980-1985, J.Robert moved back to his Tampa, Florida, based family citrus operation known world-wide as Dooley Groves. While acting as packinghouse manager at Dooley Groves, J.Robert continued part-time performances with Tampa Bay area bluegrass singer and writer for the Allman Brothers, Leon Poindeter, until 1985 when he was invited to play his beach-style show at “Quinn's on the Beach” at the J.W. Marriott's Marco Island Resort.
1985 to the Present - J.Robert continued to write performing hundreds of corporate, concert, and private events per year in the beach-style persona of Jimmy Buffett, at well-known establishments as the Snook Inn, Marco Radisson Resort, Marco Beach Hilton, Registry Resort of Naples, the Ritz Carlton of Naples, Coconut Hyatt Resort of Bonita Springs, La Playa Resort, Marco Ocean Beach Resort, Sanibel Harbour Resort, Naples Beach Resort, Tiburon, West Palm, and Key Biscayne Ritz Carlton. J.Robert warmed up for JimmyBuffett at private-corporate events.
1986 J.Robert recorded and released “Live at Quinn's on the Beach” album, followed by the all-original, vanity published, “Souvenirs” album in 1988.
After performing for Switzerland’s International Wrestling Team in 1989, J.Robert’s first travel abroad was for a Swiss Wedding Show arranged by International Tour agent, Jens Lubben in 1990, then later touring Switzerland, England, Germany. Most recently J.Robert was was sponsored but the U.S. State Department to play with the “Western Trio” featuring Nashville songwriter Brent Moyer and Jackson Hole, Wyoming singer, Christine Langdon at the 2019 “World Nomad Games” in Kygyzstan.
In 1991, J.Robert’s composed a Florida style show band to be featured at the “Mobile 5 Star Awards” in honor of the Naples Ritz Carlton which opened doors to play for the “Malcolm Baldridge Award of Excellence” for the Naples Ritz Carlton in 1992.
After J.Robert was befriended in the late 1980’s by Seminole Indian Chief Jim Billie, he performed music at the first Miss Seminole Nation Pagent in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1992.
From 1992, J.Robert participated in many community events and fund raisers over the years to include "Taste Of Marco" where he organized music for the Marco Island YMCA, Smallwood Store/Seminole Indian Days Festival, and the Marco Island Marriott Masters." Also, United Way Kickoff Celebration Music Organizer Via Calori" Benefit for Abused Women Shelter, Marco Island Seafood Festival – Booked and Organized the Music & Musicians
1993 J.Robert was honored as “Florida Country Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year 1993” as well as “Entertainer of the Year 1993,” then later that year was awarded "Fire in the Swamp" National Fiddle Championship-1st Place Swing. In 2016 J.Robert was awarded “Artist of the Year” by the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts.
All-instrumental “Blue Water” CD was released in 1994, immediately following “Discover Native America-Nashville, TN” with Chief Jim Billie accompanied by J.Robert being featured in Nashville’s “Summer Lights Festival” and “Opryland USA 1995” as well.
Beginning in 1997 at 45th celebration and up to the 70th 2022 Annual Florida Folk Festival, J.Robert has continued to participate in various gatherings including the Key West BMI Song Fest, “Fire In The Swamp” Everglades Folk Festival, Everglades City Seafood Festival, Sanibel Captiva BMI Island Hoppers Festival, Sanibel Big Arts, Goodland’s Harbor Arts Festival, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, Will Mclean Florida Song Fest, and Smallwood Store – Seminole Festival, and Native American Gathering of Nations Music Festival – Albuquerque, NM, and Merl Fest in North Carolina.
J.Robert continues to produce music via his theatric-music-monologue production of “The Florida Fiddler Show” which promotes “Florida history, heritage, and hope” and his production of “10,000 Florida Songs” show featuring many of Florida’s outstanding songwriters.
=Discography=
1986 J.Robert recorded and released “Live at Quinn's on the Beach” cassette album 1988 “Souvenirs” cassette album 2001 Blue Water Cruise Smooth Sailing CD Released 2001 Fait Plasir 2001 CD Released with Brent Moyer Switzerland Tour 2004 International BMI Convention – Music director, supervisor, and performer 2005 Hurricane Hunters EP to benefit American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.2003 Blue Water Christmas Smooth Sailing CD Released 2006 Travel Channel’s “America’s Best Beaches” - Placement 2007 Steel Away” CD release 2010 Sanibel Songwriters Showcase - “JRobert - Florida Fiddler” 2010 Peggy Sealfon’s *New Beginnings Radio Show - aired on Fox 92.5 2010 “Voices of the Everglades” CD, Published by the Florida Humanities Council 2010 “Integrative Relaxation Sports/Pain” CD Series 2010 Music compositions for www.MarcoIslandCommunityTV.com 2010 Gladezmen “Scallium Anarchs” CD 2011 Released Tiki Tunes CD to DSM Producers and US Armed Forces 2011 Produced 25 hours of “Panache Desai World Puja Radio Show” 2013 Produced “Gift of the Everglades” CD 2014 Record for Tom Cat Blake at Spirit Ranch Studios 2016 Music Score for PBS Show “The Great Florida Cattle Drive 2016” 2016 “Florida Fiddler Show” a theatrical-music-monologue production of Florida history, heritage, and hope. 2017 Scored music for PBS documentary The Great Florida Cattle Drive: Unbroken Circles for Live Oak Productions – Elam & Nic Stoltzfus 2017 Placed music on Madame Secretary 2017 Placed music on Big Bang Theory 2017 Scored music for PBS documentary “South West Florida Mangrove Coast”
Fundraisers and Charity Events
2005 – 2022 SW Florida Conservancy “Magic Under the Mangrove” Fundraiser 2005 – 2021 Annual Florida Hardware Dealers Conference 2005 – 2021 St. Pete Children’s Hospital and Miami Children’s Hospital 2010 – 2013 Rookery Bay “Batfish Bash” Fundraiser 2012 – 2022 Goodland Arts Alliance Harbor Arts & Music Festival 2013 – 2022 Everglades City Historical Society 2012 – 2018 Big Cypress National Park “Swamp Heritage Celebration” 2013 – 2016 Marco Island Seafood Festival 2015 – 2020 Golisano Children's Hospital Sunshine Kids Celebration at La Playa Resort 2016 “Artist of the Year Award” Marco Island Council for the Arts Marco Island Historical Society, Wisconsin Historical Society, Smallwood Store – Historical Museum Marco Island Foundation “Artist of the Year” J.W. Marriott’s Annual Marco Island Beach Music Festival Annual FFVA – Florida Fruits & Vegetable Association – Annual Bluegrass Breakfast MICA – Marco Island Civic Association – Beach Concert Series Naples Botanical Garden Ft Myers Beach Annual “Sand Bash” MS Foundation Fundraiser event at Quail West United Arts Council of Collier County Avow Hospice Butterfly Release Ceremony Wishing Well Foundation American Cancer Society
