Rob Meurer, multi-instrumentalist musician, songwriter, producer, arranger, and theatre wordsmith, makes a rare concert appearance at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City (UUCSC) on February 9. Rob’s many credits include over 50 songs written with and released by Christopher Cross, and work with Carole King,
Johnny Otis, Jennifer Warnes, Paul Cotton, Shelley Duvall, Billy Crystal, and Paul Williams, as well as international tours with Cross, J.D. Souther, and Karla Bonoff. On and off stage Rob is truly a Renaissance Man. His work in all mediums has won him a wall-full of awards.
As lyricist and co-librettist, Rob’s musical comedies, Jungle Man! and Robin Hood: The Untold Story, in collaboration with original Knack lead guitarist Berton Averre, have been produced in Chicago, Los Angeles, regional theatres,
and in workshops by ASCAP/Disney and others. Their current project, in collaboration with multiple Emmy winner Mark Saltzman, is the delightfully bent rockin' racetrack musical, Helldrivers Of Daytona, which is presently roaring its way toward Broadway.
For this event Rob is putting together a knockout evening of fun, music and maybe a few surprises. Joining Rob onstage as his band Grumblepants are a quartet of star musicians, each with a formidable list of credits which can only be touched upon here:
Johnny Lee Schell (guitar and vocals) has worked with Bonnie Raitt for many years, including her landmark album, Nick of Time. He also tours regularly with The Blues Brothers and legendary blues man Taj Mahal, and was music coordinator for the sitcom, “According To
Jim.”
Gigi Mackenzie Worth (drums, mandolin, guitar, and vocals) is the daughter of 50s pop singer and early TV star Giselle MacKenzie. Gigi has toured and recorded with Whitney Houston, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Gladys Knight, and many others. She has also sung top national commercials for Toyota, Ford, Barbie, IBM, and more.
Chas Thompson (bass and vocals) has laid down the bottom groove for a wide variety of artists including Jackson Browne, Steve Cropper, Joe Cocker, and Kenny Loggins. He also is a computer wizard at UC Santa Barbara. In the 1990s, Chas, Gigi, and Rob were
Christopher Cross's touring and recording band.
Frank Macchia (woodwinds) is an accomplished composer, a Sundance Labs Fellow, and the recipient of a National Endowment Grant for Jazz Arts, besides
being a master of woodwinds, both traditional and bizarre. He has performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughn, The Four Tops, the Tonight Show Band, and a host of others.
Rob Meurer and Grumblepants, Saturday, February 9, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, 12355 Moorpark St., Studio City. Bar opens at 7, concert at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, but no one will be turned
away for lack of funds. There will also be free childcare. All proceeds from the event benefit the ongoing community programs of the UUCSC. Tickets and more
information at uustudiocity.org or 818-769-5911.
