WHO AM I?

I write songs.

I was going to be a minister, a preacher. Maybe I had the wrong kind of name. Perhaps my brain, or my personality didn’t fit the bill. Anyway, I liked songs, playing the guitar, singing harmonies to the radio.

So writing songs is what I do.

(I also support the Adelaide Crows football team, drive an organza coloured Falcon, and own a lurid pink electric guitar. But I’m not especially known for these things. Well, maybe the guitar!)

I write songs, perform them, lead people in singing, put song collections together — of my own songs, and lots of other people’s too — record songs, and try to spread them around. Especially songs that Christians can sing together.

My songs have been sung by lots of people for a long time. Mostly by people in churches and  church schools. I’ve written a host of songs for Christians to sing. More than a hundred of these have been published in various collections. The biggest number have appeared in the 5 All Together songbooks produced by Openbook Publishers between 1980 and 2001. 8 are in the current Australian Hymnbook, Together In Song. A lot more have appeared in the songbooks of the biennial NCYC (National Christian Youth Convention).

Born and bred in southern Australia, I’ve lived in Adelaide most of my life. Making music is my main occupation but I’ve also been a schoolteacher (briefly) and worked for churches.

Since 1969 I’ve been married to Dorothy. We’ve got 3 adult children: Kristin, Jon & Thom.

Dorothy’s a schoolteacher. Also a singer, musician, editor, critiquer and avid supporter of Robin’s song-making.  Her voice has been ideal for leading singing and for many recordings. Her sparkling presence and great sense of humour complete many a picture.