Bobby Z.
| Bobby Z. | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert B. Rivkin |
| Born | January 9, 1956 |
| Origin | Minneapolis |
| Genres | R&B, funk, rock, soul, new wave, Minneapolis sound |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, drummer, record producer |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion |
| Labels | Copycats |
| Associated acts | Prince, The Revolution, Sly and the Family Stone |
| Notable instruments | |
|
DW Drums Sabian cymbals Rogers Drums |
|
Robert B. Rivkin (born January 9, 1956), better known by the stage name Bobby Z., is an American musician and record producer, most known as being a member of Prince's band from 1978 to 1986, and as a member of The Revolution.
Rivkin began his musical career at the age of six, playing several different instruments before finally settling on the drums. In junior high school, he formed a small touring band in the Minneapolis area that included future Chicago Bears football coach Marc Trestman on rhythm guitar.
He met Prince in the late 1970s as Prince was forming his first band for touring. He started running errands for Prince while working for the man credited with discovering Prince, Owen Husney. Rivkin's stage name, Bobby Z., was derived from the nickname "Butzie" his grandmother used to call him.
Prince was adamant about having a white drummer in an effort to have a racially diverse band so Husney implored Prince to audition Rivkin. Rivkin replaced Prince's cousin and original drummer Charles Smith much akin to Sly and the Family Stone. Rivkin was acknowledged in Prince's self-titled album as being a "heaven-sent" helper. By the time the 1999 album was released, Prince was relying more and more on electronic drums and Rivkin had to adapt his style to operate these in concert. In 1986 when Wendy & Lisa left The Revolution, Prince also took the opportunity to replace Rivkin with Sheila E.
Bobby Z produced some tracks for Boy George's 1988 album, Tense Nervous Headache. Rivkin helped Wendy & Lisa on their debut album and released his own album in 1989 (which included a re-recorded version of "River Run Dry" that he wrote for The Family). Rivkin has since focused more on producing for the recently launched record label branch of Copycats media.
He is the cousin of heavy metal drummer, Kristian Dobson.
Bobby Z suffered a heart attack in early 2010 and after his recovery made it his mission to continue to raise public awareness of heart attack warning signs and risk factors. He has lobbied Congress for continued research. He set up a fund raising charity called My Purple Heart which went about raising both funds and awareness of heart disease.
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