Like many performers, Bob's first experience of singing was in the choir stalls of his local church as a young boy. Here an appreciation of the power of music and lyrics to embed new thinking was born. While still in school Bob began writing and performing contemporary songs to connect with his generation. Backed by four good friends 'The Revelations' Friday night gigs always packed the local Church Youth Club. Here, the novice songwriter performed his first songs and began a life of crafting songs. The boys played at other venues including the popular 60s music hub the Catacombs Coffee Bar in Manchester where Bob's earliest songs were captured in a rough reel to reel recording. The Revelations reworked some of that early material for a reunion gig at Bispham, near Blackpool, in 2012.

In 1971 Bob met three talented musicians who also became more like brothers than friends. This was the birth of Canaan - the contemporary country folk / rock band which went on to record two popular vinyl albums. The majority of songs on these albums were written and fronted by Bob. Their sound was influenced by The Eagles and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The 70s saw Bob's songs become widely available and Canaan was in great demand. A gruelling schedule took the band all over the UK playing to eager young audiences in schools, colleges and universities for over eight years. A live performance in Holland was broadcast on prime time European TV. They played a new year concert at The Royal Albert Hall, London. Canaan supported Sir Cliff Richard on two of his national tours, appearing before huge audiences at such prestigious venues as  Usher Hall, Edinburgh and Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.  

The 80s saw Bob's musical family grow again and his songwriting style develop further when he formed a new band called 'Portrait'. Together they recorded a popular album. As part of the contemporary worship team Habitation, Bob contributed to two further  albums and collaborated with keyboard players Keith Shackleton and Steve Smithson to produce a number of cassette recordings. Song writing commissions and recording work began to pour in and Bob wrote many songs for contemporary albums and song books.

Bob was privileged to headline at a live concert with an audience of over 3,000 at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The concert was also broadcast nationally on BBC Radio. He sang five songs written by John Pantry and one of his own songs entitled 'May the Words of My Mouth'. Backed by a sixty piece orchestra and 60 voice youth choir this is a treasured highlight of Bob's singing and song writing career.

The 80’s and 90s brought involvement in songwriting for a contemporary worship team, based in Preston. There were also regular prison gigs with the band 'Straight Edge'. Bob released solo albums: ‘Going Home’, 'Taste and See' (which was produced to mark the millennium) and ‘Beneath the Surface’.

In 2011 Bob re-connected with long standing friends and formed the band T2C with Nigel Stewart, John Williams and Alan Buckley  to provide a more country rock platform for his songs. Songs written and recorded with them are included on the ‘Long, Long Road’ album released in 2013. Two other albums were released in 2013 - ‘Granny’s Bay’ and ‘Snow on the Roof’.

An accomplished singer-songwriter, Bob has written over two hundred songs and over one hundred songs have been recorded to date. He has a wealth of live performance and recording experience.

Over the last twenty years Bob has regularly given his time voluntarily to play in churches and prisons hoping that his music and lyrics will connect with people. Bob explains: "I try to write songs which speak about life in all it's diversity, the joys and the sorrows. I try to capture the challenges and quirkiness of life. Each of us has a piece of the jig-saw - none of us has the whole picture."

Early in 2014 Bob was commissioned to write songs about the First World War as part of a collaborative effort between The Creative Network and South Ribble Borough Council to produce a DVD. These songs were included on the album ‘Hand on My Shoulder’ released in November 2015.

Since 2017, Bob has been collaborating with Piano player Kieran Larkin, who plays piano on all but one of the tracks on the latest recording ‘You Are The Rock’.

Click here to read Bob’s article on the formative years of contemporary Christian music which was published on the Cross Rhythms website

Biography