Biography about Derry man known as the ‘Godfather of Irish Soul’

Singer Rob Strong, who was raised in Springtown Camp.

Rob Strong has been touring for the last 55 years and has played with many of Ireland’s top musicians.

Rob’s life began in the humble surroundings of Springtown Camp and he began playing in bands as a teenager.

He left Derry during the showband era and moved to Omagh, where he played with two of the biggest bands of the time - The Polka Dots and the iconic Plattermen.

Rob also performed with Johnny Logan in The Giants as well as The Las Vegas Showband, The Rockets, The Commitments band and The Rob Strong Band in a career that has spanned almost six decades.

Known as the ‘Godfather of Irish Soul’, Rob once turned down the opportunity to join Deep Purple.

While the legendary blues and soul singer may be 73 years old this year, he is still touring although this year’s lockdowns have limited his usual busy schedule.

The biography ‘Still Going Strong’ is written by Rob’s manager Paul Holland and features exclusive interviews with musicians who have played with Rob or know him personally.

Included are household names such as Phil Coulter, Johnny Logan, Colm Wilkinson, Thin Lizzy original guitarist Eric Bell, Paul Brady, Don Baker, Paddy Cole, Brush Shiels, Frankie McBride, Liam Ó Maonlaí (Hothouse Flowers), and Richie Malone from Status Quo.

Most of those who contributed to the biography agree that Rob’s voice and bass playing have always been world class and that in the early 1970s nobody in Ireland personified the raw energy of rock and blues music like Rob Strong.

Johnny Logan described Rob as “one of the best singers I had ever seen in Ireland”, while fellow Derry man Phil Coulter said Rob has “a big voice doing Bluesy stuff with a raw edge. Rob Strong has a big engine and a great vocal range.”

Rob’s children, including his son Andrew - the star of the smash hit movie The Commitments - also give a rare interview for the biography. Andrew and his two sisters speak about their father and their own involvement with music.

The foreword is written by Barry Devlin from Horslips, who says that Rob was a ‘hero’ of his.

“The thing about Rob is, he’s a serious package, bass, chops, voice and presence,” he adds.

The Rob Strong biography is available to pre-order from www.robstrong.ie