The following bio was taken from the web site below
Statistics:Born: Tucson, Arizona
Hair: Black
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 6'
Favorite Music: The Classics, Pink Floyd, The Dregs
Favorite Book: Man's Eternal Quest by Paramahansa Yogananda
Motto: "God First Always"
Born on an Air Force base hospital in Arizona, Robert began life serving his country. As one of five children to now retired Colonel Art Aviles Sr. of the United States Air Force, Robert was raised with a strong sense of family unity and duty. It was this sense of family that helped sustain him through a youth filled with constantly changing homes and lifestyles. During his early years, Robert's family lived in such diverse locations as England and Belgium before finally settling down in Huntington Beach California in 1976. It was at this point that Robert developed a love for the ocean. Even today, Robert still resides near the water in his adopted hometown of Huntington Beach.
Robert's childhood revolved around most of the traditional California pastimes; baseball, surfing & friends. Music was simply a background soundtrack to his daily activities. With the exception of his enjoyment of the classical works his parents constantly played, Robert showed little interest in music at all. So it came as a complete surprise to his parents; and to Robert himself, when at the age of 11 he announced at the dinner table that he wanted to learn to play the violin. Despite a parent's about the transient nature of childhood whims, his father quickly went out and bought Robert his first violin. Robert took to the instrument like syrup to a pancake and the two have been inseparable since.
Outside of some basic elementary school group classes, Robert's ability and style is completely self-taught. Robert went on to perform for four years in his High School Orchestra and for two years in the Huntington Beach Community Orchestra. Of course his obvious music talent did not give him any respite from his regular studies, but no matter, Robert excelled at these as well. He was selected as one of the top 50 students of Chemistry in a national competition, tutored students in Physics, Trigonometry, Chemistry, and Physiology. He received his AA Degree from Orange Coast College and then went on to California State University of Long Beach where he developed a new desire. He found a passion for healing and so began pre-med studies to become a doctor. After four years of medical courses though, Robert's attention returned to his first love, music. He changed his major from Biology to Music. After two more years of college study in Composition and Common Practice Theory, Dr. Edith Smith singled out Robert for private tutelage, with an emphasis on counter point and fugal composition. These private studies continued for another two years, resulting in a Master's degree equivalent in Composition.
It was during these college years that Robert began performing with local groups. It was at one these early shows that Robert was asked to play the solo to the then popular Kansas song "Dust in the Wind". Immediately after this performance, Robert became enamored with the idea of using his violin to create the sounds of the great rock guitar heroes who predominated the music of the time. So he shifted to playing the relatively new electric violin. By going "electric" Robert was able to process the violin sound through different pieces of equipment to create sounds reminiscent of these guitar slingers and yet wholly unique because of the originating instrument. Not content there, Robert continued to evolve his instrument to a five string and then a six string violin.
Robert's abilities and interests in music soon expanded beyond simply being a featured instrumentalist in a band, to wanting to create his own group to perform the compositions that he was creating. This led to the formation of Insight. The group began as a three-piece combo of bass, drums and violin. Through the years the band has mutated through several variations and members but always the focus was on the musical style that Robert was innovating. The popularity of Insight
found them drawing sell-out audiences at mid-size venues throughout the late 80's and 90's and even led them to win in 1991 on the internationally acclaimed show, ''Star Search''. Robert soon was attracting the attention of many groups who wanted him to perform for their events worldwide. He was asked to perform as an American Ambassador in New Zealand at the Christchurch Civic auditorium for the Joy to the World Celebration. He helped usher in the year 2000 in several concert performances in Melbourne, Australia. He has received standing ovations from audiences of 60 to 80 thousand in Winnipeg on Canada Day 2000. In addition Robert and Insight, have donated recordings, proceeds, and performances for dozens of charitable causes including Race for the Cure (Breast Cancer), The March of Dimes, The Children's Hospital of Orange County, The Bolsa Chica Conservancy, The Huntington Beach Community Hospital, Sierra Club, The Natural Resource Defense Council, The Red Cross, Amnesty International and many more.
The growth and popularity of Robert's music soon earned him many corporate endorsements. Currently Robert is sponsored by Jordan Instruments, maker of his "signature series" electric 7-string violins. Other sponsors include Barrett Insturments, Super-Sensitive Strings, Zoom, and A.G.I., developers and suppliers of the electronic components used in Robert's violin.
As a recording artist, Robert has nearly two decades of experience in composing, arranging, engineering, and producing. Robert has performed as a session player on both piano and violin on over 100 recording projects. His artistry can be heard on a Warner Bros. Instructional video, motion picture sound tracks and National Geographic/Nature Channel documentaries to name a few. Robert has a discography of over 30 CD's, ranging from Progressive Rock, Classical, New Age, Lullaby, World, Inspirational & Seasonal music. Most of his work is done from his own custom built recording facility.
Through this period, Robert has continued his interest and education in healing. In 1992 he became a certified Reiki healer and from 1993-94, Robert apprenticed under a Native American medicine man, learning, and developing an understanding in working with healing energies. In 1994 Robert started to study astrology. It was then that he began to see the correlation that music had to energy and healing within the human mind and body. He developed ''Star Songs'', whereby an individual could have their astrological chart translated into a musical composition. Each of these "Star Songs" is a completely unique and personal work of art designed to re-enforce the recipient's energy and healing potential. Robert also finds time to lecture on this topic as a key speaker for many astrological conferences and workshops. Robert has also founded Music Research Technologies; an organization devoted to the research of combining music, healing, and spirituality. Robert also teaches and leads large and small groups in Spiritual Awareness, Healing, and Meditation classes. He also holds workshops in Cymatics, the study of the relationship between sound and form, as well as in music, healing, and spirituality.
Through it all, Robert has remained a sincere and devout man. He always acknowledges his Creator as being the source of all the gifts he has and is pledged to giving those gifts back to any who want to receive them. A consummate performer, a brilliant artist, and an honest man.
Contact Robert at:
colband@pacbell.net
