Rob Nogash has been tossing lumber for blues bands the last 14 years, in the central New York area. Trained in saxophone at early age, Rob switched to drums after his brother stopped playing the drum set he left behind, in the family basement, a set of 60’s Gretch that still supports the drum addiction.

Percussion is a tradition for the family, Rob’s grandfather was a traveling percussionist in 20’s & 30’s, and played in drum & bugle bands in the 20’s, when bands were popular form of company pride by many manufacturing plants in the early 1900’s.

Rob  started forming his love for the blues after seeing the James Cotton Blues band perform at a college concert  while he was still in high school. Starting in garage bands as part time hobby, with some training in funk/fusion jazz, the last 14 years Rob has played with many notable players in the central New York area. As a founding member of  Reckless Abandon  whom backed Ned Lucas during his years in the Syracuse New York area, Rob played and helped arrange many of the songs  that Ned performed live. One of Rob’s lyrical works ended up on Ned’s first CD “A Little Shot Of Blue”, the song “You Know I Love Your Big….Butt” has made the national airwaves on numerous radio programs. ( http://www.nlucas.com/ )

Continuing to play out of the Syracuse area, Rob has enjoyed playing with “Jersey Slim”, in the Hurricane Blues Band. Jersey is more noted from his New York City gig’s and a recording on Epic records. Other notable bands Rob has played include “Chili Mac”, also a Syracuse New York located band

The “Shakedown Blues Band” was formed by Rob, co-worker Dave Lambrych (Guitar & Vocals) in 1998, adding Mike DeGaramo (bass)  & “Dan Bone Kenny” (Lead Vocals & Harp). In 2001 “Shakedown” released their first CD “Live & Kickin” which Rob Co-produced. Production of the CD was a great joy, as Rob could us his decades of electrical engineering experience and closing  in on his  desire to work in the recording industry. Check out some cuts of the CD on the “Shakedown” web page “Music”.

You can also find Rob at some of the great jams in Syracuse, like “Shifty’s” Wednesday open mike night, where the variety is diverse, the “Rooter’s” Sunday night blues jam where all the great area blues talents hang, or the every-other Monday night jam at the “Dinosaur” where the new, up & coming talent mingle with the veterans for some great improvisational sessions.