Robert Sarazin Blake is an American singer-songwriter hailing from

Bellingham, Washington Bellingham ( ) is the most populous city in, and county seat of Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It lies south of the U.S.–Canada border in between two major cities of the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver, British Columbia (loc ...

.Same Room Records Records Robert Blake biography. Accessed on 2/7/2008
/ref> Blake is generally considered a

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

ian, though his music incorporates elements of traditional Celtic songwriters, modern punk rock,

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...

, and blues all blended together with a heavy dose of improvisation. This melding of varying genres produces a "speed strumming style" that functions as a backdrop to Blake's narrative style of songwriting. Although Blake also writes songs centered on love and his personal life, his leftist-anarchist politics feature prominently in many of his works. Examples of this can be found in songs such as "Didn't We", "Culture of Resistance", and "Philadelphia"; all of which promote the values of an anti-consumerist and independent spirit. He is known for his extensive touring; often traversing the entire United States and Ireland for much of the year. Although such an exhaustive touring schedule occupies a lot of Blake's time, he also makes sure to spend a good part of his time in and around his hometown of Bellingham, WA, where he organizes and performs in the

Subdued String Band Jamboree ''Subdued'' ( fa, رگ خواب, Rage Khāb, Weak Spot) is a 2017 Cinema of Iran, Iranian Romantic film, romantic Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Hamid Nematollah and written by Masoumeh Bayat. The film stars Leila Hatami, Kor ...

each year in addition to playing and recording at many of the local bars and clubs.6th Annual Subdued String Jamboree. Accessed on 2/7/2008
/ref> In addition to his extensive touring schedule, which takes him to

venues Venue is the location at which an event takes place. It may refer to: Locations * Venue (law), the place a case is heard * Financial trading venue, a place or system where financial transactions can occur * Music venue, place used for a concer ...

ranging from the venerable

924 Gilman Street The Alternative Music Foundation located at 924 Gilman Street, often referred to by its fans simply as "Gilman", is a non-profit, all-ages, collectively organized music club. It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California, about ...

Berkeley, CA Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland and Emery ...

and the folk club The Tin Angel in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, to garages and basements around the world, Blake also runs his own record label:

Same Room Records Same may refer to: *Sameness or identity Places * Same (Homer), an island mentioned by Homer in the ''Odyssey'' * Same (polis), an ancient city * Same, East Timor, the capital of the Manufahi district * Samé, Mali * Same, Tanzania * Same District ...

Discography

''Humdinger Days and Humdinger Nights''. Same Room Records, 2000.
''The High, Wide, and Handsome Band''. Same Room Records, 2000.
''A Crowd of Drunken Lovers''. Same Room Records, 2001.
''Bellingham and Philadelphia''. (split CD with Erik Petersen). Art of the Underground, 2002.
''Still Kissing Last Night's Smoke Stained Lips''. Art of the Underground, 2004.
''The Beautiful and the Afternoon''. Same Room Records, 2007.
''The Air Your Lungs Forced Out''. Same Room Records, 2007.
''Put It All Down in a Letter''. Same Room Records, 2011.
''A Long Series of Memorable Nights Forgotten: The Belfast Sessions'' (with

John McSherry John Patrick McSherry (September 11, 1944April 1, 1996) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1971 until his death. McSherry wore uniform number 9 when he entered the National League, then wore num ...

). Same Room Records, 2011. ''Robt Sarazin Blake''. Same Room Records, 2013. ''Recitative,'' 2017.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, Robert American folk musicians People from Bellingham, Washington Living people Year of birth missing (living people)