Robert Kopolovicz was involved in the arts almost from day one. Known throughout the internet for creating great websites combining music and graphics, his earlier talents were the main seeds to it all. At the early age of three, he was already drawing detailed pictures of buildings, trains, and people. Two years later, he learned how to play the keyboard by ear because of perfect pitch. By age 11, he became interested in tape cassettes and recorded himself playing the keyboards. Born and raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in 1969, this was Rob's early beginnings with a deep rooted interest in the arts.
After moving to East Islip in 1982, Robert still continued his interest in the arts throughout. During the teen years, his skills were becoming more advanced. Newer and better ways of recording were being developed, musical skills were becoming more disciplined, and the overall creativity level was expanding. Throughout junior high and high school, Rob always took many music, art, photography, and video electives in conjunction with the liberal arts classes. He performed in school concerts, went on band tours and even played keyboards during one of the performances. Synthesizer music was something new back in 1986 in high school but the audience took to it very well because it was something exciting!
In 1990, this was the year Rob invested in sophisticated audio recording equipment like a digital sequencer, keyboards, drum machines, sound modules and other gear. This was the transitional year when Rob started using very early digital equipment. It was a place ahead of its time before DIGITAL was affordable and more mainstream as it is today. From that year on, his new recording studio became the standard for how he records today and still going strong. Over a span of 21 years, this particular studio evolved with new equipment atleast once every two years. Occasionally, people would come over to record demos in addition to duplication projects throughout the years. "Many of my innovative ideas came from that particular room with so many great projects from there!"
Later, from a Fives Towns College connection, Rob was "used" on a record single called, 'Wake It Up' with record producer Guido Osorio in 1995. "He liked my 1982 JUNO 106 keyboard because of the unique sounds he needed for a particular album. It was kind of ridiculous actually, but whatever!" In 1996, Rob networked again, this time at Stony Brook Hospital, and wrote two songs for a Dawn Dineros CD, 'My Long Lost Love' and 'Crazy For Your Love'. "It wasn't the greatest business deal, atleast not for me, but it's still being sold on the internet."
In 1998, with yet another Stony Brook connection, Rob joined an Elvis Impersonater band, King Kai and The Creoles where he plays keyboards and sings backup vocals. The band is still going strong. Today, Rob is responsible for playing not only his own parts but additional piano because the original piano player moved to North Carolina.
"We played for all kinds of live situations, like dinner clubs, outdoor shows in the summers, a PC Richards Corporate Party, and a charity gig where celebraties like Susan Lucci helped for the cause. The friendships grew strong from this Elvis band!"
In 2000, Rob went to Fashion Institute of Technology to update his graphic design skills. Here he learned Photoshop, Quark, Illustrater, and 3D Studio Max. It was then that he continued learning more about the photo-retouching programs restoring old photographs with the computer. In 2002, Robert became interested in digital photography. This really made things interesting in terms of not only preserving new memories but for later creating cool web sites and later an album cover for his music.
In 2003, Robert decided to go to Briarcliffe College to finish his Bachelor's degree in graphic design. He graduated with honors with a 3.8 average and learned how to build web pages, got more into the art programs, and later incorporated music and art together as ONE unit. For the first time that year, the art was helping the music because of web design and the music was an integral part of that web design.
In 2011, Rob took everything he ever learned about web design creation, graphic design, and music and decided to upload cover music and originals onto i-tunes and other such websites for distribution. "I go by the name 'Retro Rob' because I'm interested in recording music from decades past. It's the modern way to go as far as people hearing your music and for artists to make some money these days!" You can find Rob's singles on i-tunes,
RETRO ROBWhat are Rob's goals for the coming years? "I guess it would be to keep my talent level really high. I'll play gigs as always, record music, write web pages, etc. No matter where I am in life or what I'm doing, you know it'll always include the arts. This is what comes natural to me. Basically, I wanna keep up with all the trends, do as much as I can with the tools I have now and continuously be creative throughout the future ..........." Stay tuned .......
