Rob Shirakbari

Rob (Shrock) Shirakbari is an American musician, composer, record producer, and arranger, best known for being long-time music director for Dionne Warwick (1985–present) and Burt Bacharach (1996 - 2010) [1] and as producer, co-writer, and music director for Rumer (2013–present).[2]

Rob Shirakbari
Shirakbari at Capitol Studios in 2016
Shirakbari at Capitol Studios in 2016
Background information
Birth nameJohn Robert Shirakbari
Also known asRob Shrock
BornNovember 15, 1963 (1963-11-15) (age 59)
Dermott, Arkansas, U.S.
GenresRock, pop, and soul
Occupation(s)Producer, musician, songwriter, orchestrator, arranger
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards, guitar, bass
Years active1979–present
Websiteshirakbari.com

Shirakbari has worked with Aretha Franklin, Adele, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Elvis Costello, Wynonna Judd, Duffy, Ronald Isley, Peabo Bryson, Chris Botti, and Whitney Houston among other successful recording artists. He served on the NARAS Board of Governors for the Texas Chapter from 1998-2000.

Early life

Shirakbari was born in Dermott, Arkansas on November 15, 1963 to parents Nasser and Betty Kay (née Seamans) Shirakbari. His father is a retired pharmaceutical doctor and his mother is a retired pharmacy technician. Shirakbari began playing trumpet at ten years old in his elementary school band. He later began playing guitar and teaching himself to play piano at age thirteen. His composing and conducting career started early by writing the Alma Mater for his Junior high school which was debuted with the school's concert band. He later studied piano with renowned teacher, Marjorie Mae Bond, and studied composition with Francis McBeth at Ouachita Baptist University. In high school, he played keyboards and guitar in several bands and developed his songwriting and recording skills.

Music career

Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick, Rob (Shrock) Shirakbari, Burt Bacharach 1995

Shirakbari began working with Dionne Warwick in 1985. He has toured extensively with her around the world as her music director, arranger, and pianist. He has produced and performed on albums, Friends Can Be Lovers (1993), Dionne Sings Dionne (1998), The Best of Dionne Warwick (2001), This Christmas (2014), and She’s Back (2019).[3]

Burt Bacharach

Shirakbari began working closely with Burt Bacharach in early 1987 when Bacharach and Warwick reunited and began touring together. Shirakbari became Bacharach's protege and was involved in recording sessions and arrangements with Bacharach. In 1996, Shirakbari became Bacharach's music director and together they wrote the arrangements for Bacharach's revamped live show, with many of the arrangements still being played in Burt's live show today. He toured extensively around the world with Bacharach until late 2010.

Shirakbari performed on One Amazing Night (1998), Sessions at West 54th (Bacharach/Elvis Costello) (2001), Isley meets Bacharach - Here I Am (Ron Isley/Burt Bacharach) (2003), At This Time (2005), Live at The Sydney Opera House (Mixed with Allen Sides) (2008), and What Love Can Do (Burt Bacharach/Peabo Bryson) (2009).

Rumer

Shirakbari began working with recording artist (and now wife) Rumer (musician), as her co-writer, producer, pianist, keyboardist, and arranger in 2013. The two met briefly at a World Hunger Day gala at the Royal Albert Hall in London hosted by Dionne Warwick in 2012, where Shirakbari was music director and Rumer and Warwick sang a duet of Bacharach & David's, “Hasbrook Heights.” Rumer later moved to Los Angeles in 2013, following the release of her album, Boy’s Don’t Cry, where the two began working together.

  • 2014: Into Colour (producer, musician, and arranger)

Shirakbari produced Rumer's second album of all original material, Into Colour, (co-written by Rumer, Rob Shirakbari, and Stephen Bishop) and her third studio album, which was released on November 10, 2014 in the UK, Ireland, and Japan. The record was then released worldwide in early 2015 by Atlantic Records. Dangerous,[4] and Reach Out [5] were the first singles to be released from the album, both charting on BBC Radio 2. Dangerous was BBC Radio 2 Record Of The Week (October 13–19, 2014) and reached #2 and Reach Out was BBC Radio 2 Record Of The Week (December 21–27, 2014) and reached #10 on the charts.[6] Into Colour spent 9 weeks on the UK music charts and peaked at #12.[7]

  • 2015: B Sides and Rarities (producer, mixer, musician, mastering, arranger)

B Sides and Rarities charted on the UK music charts at #97 [8]

  • 2015: Love Is The Answer EP (producer, mixer, musician, arranger)
  • 2016: This Girl's in Love: A Bacharach and David Songbook (producer, mixer, musician, arranger)

Rumer's fifth album, This Girl's in Love, released under the East West Records label, features select tracks from the songbook of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was released on November 25, 2016 and reached #28 [9] on the UK Music Charts. It was produced by Shirakbari at RAK Studios in London and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles in 2016.[10][11]

Artist development

Shirakbari has spent a substantial part of his career working with and developing new, young artists. He has worked with LeAnn Rimes, Mikaila, Kristy Lee Cook, Kate & Kacey, and many others at early stages in their music careers.

Film Composing, Soundtracks, and Live Television Performances

Shirakbari, Burt Bacharach, and Don Was were the music directors and arrangers for the 72nd Academy Awards. He wrote the arrangements and conducted the pit orchestra for the four-hour awards show and played keyboards in the on-camera band that featured Oscar-winning songs performed by Faith Hill, Ray Charles, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick and Isaac Hayes.[12][13]

Year Production Title Role
2012 Switchmas (Soundtrack) I Just Can't Do Without Christmas Producer, Arranger, Mixer, Piano, Bass, Keyboards, Programming
2000 Soundstage (TV Series Documentary) Ronald Isley and Burt Bacharach Musician
2001 American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (Soundtrack) What The World Needs Now Is Love Co-producer, Keyboards
2001 Looney Tunes (Soundtrack) Christmas With Frosty the Snowman & Friends Orchestrator, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming, Rhythm, Engineer
2000 Sessions at West 54th (Televised Live Performance) Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach Arranger, Keyboards
2000 102 Dalmatians (Soundtrack) Original Soundtrack Keyboards, Drum and Synthesizer Programming
2000 Looney Tunes (Soundtrack) Kwazy Christmas Orchestrator, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming, Rhythm, Engineer
1999 The Murder in China Basin (Soundtrack) Original Soundtrack Producer, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger
1998 Burt Bacharach (TV Special) One Amazing Night Arranger, Musician
1992 The Johnny Carson Show (Televised Live Performance) Dionne Warwick Musician, Arranger

Writer

As a writer, Shirakbari has been a long-time contributor to Keyboard Magazine, Electronic Musician, Mix Magazine, and Remix Magazine (among others), writing feature articles and product reviews.[14][15]

Teaching and mentoring

Shirakbari has taught and mentored at various industry events speaking on topics covering songwriting, arranging, and music production. He has taught master classes and workshops at Otis Redding Foundation Music Camp (Macon, Georgia), Bimm Music Institute (Dublin, Ireland), Henry Mancini Institute (Los Angeles, California), and various elementary, Jr. high and high schools.[16]

Discography
Title Artist Credits Year
Nashville Tears (Album) Rumer String Arranger, Conductor, Engineer 2020
New Year's Eve in New Orleans: Roll Up '78 and Light Up '79! (Album) The Marshall Tucker Band Mixer (as Rob Shrock) 2020
She's Back (Album) Dionne Warwick Producer, Piano, Keyboards, Percussion, Horns (as Rob Shrock) 2019
Dionne Warwick & The Voices of Christmas (Album) Dionne Warwick Musical Direction, String Arranger, Conductor 2019
This Girl's In Love: A Bacharach and David Songbook (Album) Rumer Producer, Mixer, Arranger, Conductor, Engineer, Piano, Bass, Rhodes, Nylon Guitar, Vibes, Synth 2016
You and I (Album) Alani Producer, Composer, Piano, Bass, Mixer 2016
Love Is The Answer (EP) [17] " Rumer Producer, Arranger and Conductor 2015
B-Sides & Rarities (Album) Rumer Producer, Mastering, Mixer, Arranger, Conductor, Songwriter, Piano, Bass, Synth, Acoustic Guitar 2015
Into Colour (Album) [18] Rumer Producer, Arranger, Conductor, Songwriter, Piano, Bass, Wurlitzer, Organ, Rhodes, Acoustic Guitar, Vibes, Glockenspiel, Synth, Programming, Mixing 2015
This Christmas (Single) Dionne Warwick Producer, Arranger, Mixing, Piano, Bass, Keyboards, Programing 2014
BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the 80s ("Arthur's Theme") (Single) Rumer Producer, Arranger, Conductor, Mixing, Piano, Wurlitzer, Organ, Synth 2014
Movie Moods: Love Stories (Album) [19] Michael Omartian Vocal Engineer 2014
Lose A Girl (Album) [20] Nicky Corbett Piano, Strings 2013
Switchmas (Movie Soundtrack) Annie Bany Producer, Arranger, Mixer, Songwriter, Piano, Bass, Guitars, Kazoo 2012
Is Love a Fairy Tale? (Album) [21] Aoede Piano, String Arrangements, String Conductor, Synthesizer, Wurlitzer [22] 2012
Frail Hope Ranch (Album) The Stripminers (featuring Brett Anderson of the Donnas) String Arranger and Conductor 2012
Skeletons of the Muse (Album) Aoede Piano, Wurli, Synths, String Arrangements and Conducting 2012
Heart Strings (Album) [23] Mary Segato Fender Rhodes, Guitar (Acoustic), Melodica, Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Wurlitzer 2012
Never Let The Little Man Down (Album) [24] Scrote Piano 2012
Affair with the Muse (Album) [25] Aoede Keyboards, Piano, String Arrangements, String Conductor 2011
Barefoot & Young (Album) [26] Annie Bany Producer, Songwriter, Mixer, Arranger, Bass, Guitars, Keyboards, Melodica, Mandolin, String Arrangements 2011
Karima Karima Piano 2010
What Love Can Do Burt Bacharach and Peabo Bryson Arranger, Keyboards 2009
Live at the Sydney Opera House [27] Burt Bacharach Arranger, Keyboards, Main Personnel, Mixing 2008
Pure Imagination John Pagano String Arrangement, Keyboards 2008
New Music From An Old Friend Phil Ramone/Peabo Bryson String Arrangements, Keyboards 2007
The Look of Love: Burt Bacharach Songbook (Album) [28] Traincha (Trijntje Oosterhuis) Piano 2007
Transvalue Book III: The '58 Retractable Hardtop [29] Transvalue Mastering 2007
Who'll Speak for Love [30] Traincha (Trijntje Oosterhuis) Programming 2007
MusicTraks III (Album) Penny Framstad Producing, Mixing, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Co-writing 2006
At This Time (Album) [31] Burt Bacharach Synthesizer 2005
At the Casbah [32] Shani Composer, Piano 2005
Spotlight on Music: Grade 2 Disc 13 [33] Various Artists Arranger 2005
Spotlight on Music: Grade 2 Disc 17 Various Artists Arranger 2005
Wet Dog Man [34] Paul Chesne Conductor, String Arrangements 2005
American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs What The World Needs Now Is Love (Burt Bacharach) Assistant Music Director, Keyboards, Mixing, Producer, Vocal Arrangement 2003
American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (Album) Finalists Keyboards 2003
Here I Am: Isley Meets Bacharach [35] Burt Bacharach / Ronald Isley Keyboards 2003
So Damn Happy [36] Aretha Franklin Keyboards, Synthesizer Arrangements 2003
Graham Colton Graham Colton String Arrangements, Keyboards 2000
Christmas with Frosty the Snowman & Friends [37] Looney Tunes Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Programming, Rhythm, Synthesizer 2001
The Best of Dionne Warwick (Paradiso) [38] Dionne Warwick Arranger, Engineer, Keyboards, Organ, Producer, Programming, String Arrangements 2001
The Best of Sessions at West 54th, Vol. 1 [39] Burt Bacharach / Elvis Costello Keyboards 2001
The Murder at China Basin (Album) Original Soundtrack Producer, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger 2000
102 Dalmatians (Album) Original Soundtrack Keyboards, Drum and Synth Programming 2000
Looney Tunes Kwazy Christmas [40] Looney Tunes Bass, Drums, Engineer, Keyboards, Orchestration, Programming, Synthesizer 2000
Painted From Memory Elvis Costello Keyboards, Accordion 1998
Dionne Sings Dionne [41] Dionne Warwick Arranger, Engineer, Keyboards, Organ, Percussion, Producer 1998
One Amazing Night[42] Burt Bacharach Keyboards, Arranger 1998
Friends Can Be Lovers (Album) [43] Dionne Warwick Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Drums, Guitar 1993
Cure Me with the Groove Citizen Swing (Album) Producer, Engineer [44] 1992

References
  1. "Dionne Warwick - Concert Review - Rob Shrock keyboard player and music director-ASB-CBN News - written by Rick Olivares". 15 February 2018.
  2. Barnett, Laura (9 November 2014). "Rumer: I feel a duty to be honest - Rob Shirakbari- producer, musician -The Guardian - written by Lauren Barnett - November 8, 2018". The Observer.
  3. Warwick, Dionne; Wooley, David Freeman (22 November 2011). My Life as I see it: An Autobiography - Dionne Warwick - Rob Shrock Keyboards - Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781439171356.
  4. "BBC Radio 2 - Rumer - Dangerous - #2 - October 13, 2014".
  5. "BBC Radio 2 - Rumer - Reach Out - #10 - December 21, 2014".
  6. Listen to Rumer's new song Dangerous The Guardian. 22 September 2014.
  7. "Into Colours - Official Charts -UK Charts #12 Album - November 22, 2014". Official Charts.
  8. "UK Music Charts #97 - Rumer - B Sides & Rarities - September 17, 2015". Official Charts.
  9. "UK Music Charts #28 - Rumer - This Girl's In Love - August 12, 2016". Official Charts.
  10. "Rumer Announces London Show". Music-News.com. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  11. "This Girl's in Love with You - Rumer - Pop Matters - Producer Rob Shirakbari - written by Richard Folland - November 17, 2016". 18 November 2016.
  12. "Cinema Sight - 72nd Academy Awards Ceremony 1999 - Musical Arranger - Rob Shrock". 23 April 2018.
  13. "IMDB - Rob Shrock - Filmography". IMDb.
  14. "Keyboard Magazine - The Virtual Orchestra: String Basics - Written by Rob Shrock - Dec 18, 2018".
  15. "Electronic Musician - Audio Impressions 70 DVZ Strings - Written by Rob Shrock - Sep 15, 2011".
  16. "Otis Redding Foundation - presenter of the day: Rob Shirakbari - June 6, 2018 - author Jaya Alaan".
  17. "Rumer - Love Is The Answer (CD)". Discogs.com. 2015-12-11. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  18. "Listen to Rumer's new song Dangerous | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  19. "Movie Moods: Love Stories - Michael Omartian | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  20. "To Lose A Girl - Nicky Corbett | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  21. "Is Love a Fairy Tale? - Aoede | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  22. "Aoede - Is Love A Fairy Tale?- Team". Isloveafairytale.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  23. "Heart Strings - Mary Segato | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  24. "Never Let The Little Man Down - Scrote | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  25. "Affair With The Muse - Aoede | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  26. "Barefoot & Young - Annie Bany | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  27. Mark Keresman (2008-10-28). "Live at the Sydney Opera House - Burt Bacharach | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  28. "The Look of Love: Burt Bacharach Songbook - Trijntje Oosterhuis, Traincha | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  29. "Transvalue Book III: The '58 Retractable Hardtop - Transvalue | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  30. "Who'll Speak for Love - Trijntje Oosterhuis, Traincha | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  31. Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2005-11-01). "At This Time - Burt Bacharach | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  32. "At the Casbah - Shani | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  33. "Spotlight on Music: Grade 2 Disc 13 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  34. "Wet Dog Man - Paul Chesne | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  35. Thom Jurek (2003-11-11). "Here I Am: Isley Meets Bacharach - Ronald Isley, Burt Bacharach | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  36. John Bush (2003-09-16). "So Damn Happy - Aretha Franklin | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  37. arisa Brown (2001-07-17). "Christmas with Frosty the Snowman & Friends - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  38. "The Best of Dionne Warwick [Paradiso] - Dionne Warwick | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  39. Richie Unterberger. "The Best of Sessions at West 54th, Vol. 1 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  40. Heather Phares (2000-10-03). "Looney Tunes Kwazy Christmas - Looney Tunes | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  41. Jason Elias (1998-10-06). "Dionne Sings Dionne - Dionne Warwick | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  42. Stephen Thomas Erlewine (1998-11-24). "One Amazing Night - Burt Bacharach | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  43. Bil Carpenter. "Friends Can Be Lovers - Dionne Warwick | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  44. "Cure Me with the Groove - Citizen Swing | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
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