Rob The Record Guy...

Rob Gillis has been known just as “Rob The Record Guy” in Chicago for over three decades. He grew up in Tarrytown, New York, and first started hitting the great record stores of Greenwich Village in the late 1960’s. He was in college radio in Missouri and Illinois and became general manager of Triad Radio & Magazine in Chicago. He then worked for the Dharma Records label, the Dog Ear Records retail chain, was an editor and writer, and then began a long run at the 2nd Hand Tunes used records chain where he really earned the “Rob The Record Guy” handle. Next stop was the Waterdog Records label. In 2002, he helped revive the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab label for online audiophile retailer Music Direct. After another stint with Waterdog, he’s back with Music Direct heading up their used record division. Along the way he’s been a freelance music writer and publicist, band manager, historical consultant, concert promoter, worked on special projects for the Grammys, and is past President of EARS, the Audio engineering society of Chicago. He’s also an ASCAP songwriter that plays piano pretty well and other instruments poorly.