Honored to be a Winning contender in Carmine Appice’s “Best Rock Drummer of the United States” competition in LA, Rob has also recorded on Arista Records with notable Organist Larry Young (keyboard player with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Lionel Hampton, John Mc Laughlin, and Jimi Hendrix), played at The Village Gate and Carnegie Hall for the Newport Jazz Festival. Historically, as a Jazz/Rock recording artist, Rob played with "The Great Train Robbery," an 8-piece Jazz-Rock horn group touring throughout the country as New England's "Battle of the Bands" Award winner!

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Has recorded several CDs with "Guitar Queen" Desiree Bassett, lead guitarist for the Michael Jackson IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil.  The great Russell Kleinknecht  joined Rob in many musical adventures over an approximate 30 year period, capped by his wonderful solo effort ~ "Out of My Hands."  Unfortunately, Russell left us all too early...but not before finishing the production of SECRET SIGN ~ featuring the luminary talents of master guitarist Tom Majesky, renowned bassist Dave Stoltz, jazz-master keyboardist Kent Hewitt, superb Latin-percussionist Jose’ Goico, and the extraordinary Jimmy Biggins on sax and flute.  Rob also recorded with soulful master Grayson Hugh, The Band “Holding Pattern” ~ Breaking the Silence, Guitarist Tony Spada's epic Prog - Rock piece, and Accountant to the Stars, Alan Friedman, who always surrounds himself musically with an all-star line up.

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CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE ~ Pat Grandjean  Editor
"In case you haven't heard, West Hartford's ROB THE DRUMMER (Gottfried) is King of the "Pro-Arts, Pro-Sports, Anti-Substance Abuse, Self-Esteem beat!  Having played Carnegie Hall himself (not to mention Sesame Street) Gottfried derives ore satisfaction from the idea that he's changed lives. His seminal message  - that the habit of enhancing the best times of our lives (and salving the rest) with drugs "has got to stop" - has distinguished 20 years of tireless school appearances, three White House appearances and a CPTV Life Documentary highlighting Wynton Marshals." 

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Rob currently plays with Connecticut's great Funk-Dance Band, AVENUE GROOVE