Robert Searight facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Searight
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Searight in 2015
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Robert Searight II |
| Born | March 18, 1975 Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Origin | Dallas |
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| Instruments | Drums, piano, keyboards |
| Years active | c. 1996–present |
| Labels | Independent |
Robert "Sput" Searight (born March 18, 1975) is an American musician. He is famous for playing the drums. Robert also writes music and produces albums. He is best known for his work with the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy. He also helped start the band Ghost-Note, which focuses on percussion. Robert plays many types of music. These include jazz, funk, hip-hop, and gospel. He has played and recorded with many famous artists. Some of these include Kirk Franklin, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, Erykah Badu, and Toto. He won a Grammy Award for his work on the album God's Property.
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Robert Searight's Early Life and Music Journey
Robert Searight was born and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He came from a family that loved music. There were many instruments in his home when he was a child. His mother, Linda Searight, was an opera singer and a music teacher. Robert got his first drum kit when he was five years old. He started playing drums right away.
He mostly listened to gospel music as a young child. But this changed when he was eight. He found many different vinyl albums to listen to. He began taking music lessons in junior high school. Later, he went to Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts. There, he played the piano. He also learned about improvisation for the first time. He says that gospel drummer Joel Smith was his biggest early influence.
Starting His Career and Winning a Grammy
In 1992, while still in high school, Robert and his mother started a gospel choir. They named it God's Property. Robert studied jazz piano and drums in junior college. Then, he went to the University of North Texas. He studied percussion there.
Soon after, in 1997, God's Property worked with Kirk Franklin. They created an album called God's Property. Robert won a Grammy Award for this album. It was in the category of Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album. After this, he started touring a lot to support the album. He then moved to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, he worked as a drummer and producer. He worked with many artists. These included Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar, and Timbaland.
Joining Bands and More Success
In the mid-2000s, Robert moved back to Dallas. He played music in the R&B and gospel scene there. He worked with artists like Erykah Badu, Tamela Mann, and The Clark Sisters. During weekly jam sessions, he met members of the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy. At that time, Snarky Puppy was based in Dallas.
Around 2006, Robert joined Snarky Puppy. He first played keyboards, then became a drummer. He has won three more Grammys with this band. In 2014, Robert and Snarky Puppy's percussionist, Nate Werth, started a new band. They called it Ghost-Note. This band plays funk, hip hop, and jazz music, focusing on percussion. He has released two albums with Ghost-Note. These are Fortified (2015) and Swagism (2018). From 2020 to 2024, he also joined Toto as their drummer and toured with them.
Robert Searight's Music Albums
God's Property
- God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation (1997)
- Live in Concert (2001) with Kim Burrell
- Dorinda Clark-Cole (2002) with Dorinda Clark Cole
- Out The Box (2004) with Tonex
Ghost-Note
- Fortified (2015)
- Swagism (2018)
- Mustard n'Onions (2024)
with Snarky Puppy
- Bring Us the Bright (2008)
- Tell Your Friends (2010)
- GroundUP (2012)
- Family Dinner – Volume 1 (2013)
- Sylva with Metropole Orkest (2015)
- Family Dinner – Volume 2 (2016)
- Culcha Vulcha (2016)
with Toto
- With a Little Help from My Friends (2021)
