A native of Detroit, Michigan, Bob Gentry proved to be an incredible musician at a young age, learning to play both piano and guitar on his own and amassing a repertoire of over 50 songs by age seventeen.
In his teen years, Bob found some success with the all-original rock band Moisture. Touring the Detroit club scene, Moisture attracted a dedicated following and was nominated for Best Rock Band at the Motor City Music Awards. The group was also asked to perform at Chicago’s Independent Label Festival; the first track of the Festival’s compilation CD was Moisture’s.
"I was very introverted when I was young. I was writing songs for myself with meanings that I thought no one would get. But, people found the lyrics resonated with their own lives and it helped me to realize that we all share some common experiences. By the time I was playing with Moisture I thought I had to be loud and hard-edged—that getting it in your face was the only way to get people to listen, but eventually I realized that I didn’t need to do that."
After recreating Moisture with new members in Los Angeles, the band performed on the USA Network and Canada’s MUCH Music Network, and was immediately offered a recording contract by FarmClub, then a label under Interscope Records.
Now a solo artist, Bob writes and performs with Grammy winning artists including poet/singer/songwriter Rod McKuen, best known for songs such as "Seasons In the Sun," "If You Go Away," and the Oscar nominated "Jean," and David Tyson, writer of the hit "Black Velvet" performed by Alannah Myles.
His first self-titled, self-produced album has recently earned him a spot in the top 5 Male Singer Songwriter (2006) category from the JPF Awards while the first single from the album, "Upside Down," earned him the LA Music Award for Rock Singer Songwriter of the Year (2006). The single has also found its way to regular rotation on Adam Curry’s podcast and was voted as one of the top ten PodSafe songs by associated podcasters. Several of his other songs and original score work can be heard on various films and television programs including Fox's "Bones," as well as on NBC's StarTomorrow music competition where he reached the Top 5 of 100 acts chosen to participate.
Bob is currently in the studio working on his next project. Tony DeFranco of the famous DeFranco Family and James Lee Stanley (known to many as the 5th Monkey) appear on the album singing back-up vocal tracks.
"As I have grown musically, I think I have found a middle ground. My lyrics often still have double and triple meanings but now they’re not such a puzzle. Nothing is made up, it’s all from life experiences, and I think people can hear that and really identify with the music because of it."
A prolific and dedicated writer and musician with over 500 songs in his repertoire, Bob continues to write new songs, perform, and produce albums for other artists. He currently resides in Hollywood, California.
