Biography
Upstate New York’s Bob Prong has been bringing music to countless people for over 20 years. He started out as a folk artist in the upstate NY music scene with his first independent CD release in 1994. He later released two other CDs as a BMI affiliated writer; the progressive jam "Salt of the Earth" (Groovadelic Disc, 1997) which enjoyed rotation on Sirius radio and cable radio, through Viacom distribution and "Live from Studio 7" (1998)
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The late 90’s were the height of Bob’s popularity. In 1998 his music “Prongwater” was used on the popular basketball program "NBA on TNT" and his song "All Good Intentions" crossed over into a variety of radio formats and received good reviews in many publications. For example Casey Ferrell of Real Magazine wrote "Classically trained with a yearning guitar hero status, Prong's playing has no boundaries.”
Bob relocated to Tampa, FL in 2003 as he grew tired of the long, frigid upstate NY winters. Once there he made fast freinds with many musicians in the scene and joined a successful band called "The Freed".
Later his signature style folk-groove rock became a staple of the Tampa music scene until 2008 when his frequent backaches were diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and he took some time off to be treated. Then in early 2010 he was diagnosed with Deputrens Contracture, a hand disorder.
Determined to keep on performing, he did a few shows here and there to see if he could overcome these obstacles. Things went well at first, but fatigue claimed his back and the Deputrens worsened his hand coordination.
But his creative spirit hasn't been stifled. Recently he has been writing some new music with hopes to record if medical technology is available to help his situation in the future.
“For a long time a few people have been asking if I’m ever going to put something new out.” says Prong; “Even though I really haven’t made significant impact as far as original music goes since the 90’s but I was still out there playing until a couple years ago.
Well, I spent the 90’s striving to be a rock star and that didn’t quite work out so I spent the 2000’s not so much motivated to do anything new, scraping by just playing covers and whatever.
If I could get past these medical issues I'd give something to the people who actually would like to hear something new. I could do that now since Internet distribution channels make it possible for people to listen to and buy music without the middleman of a record label.
I have no illusions about it though. I doubt I’ll ever get the sirius/cable airplay or big audience to play for I had with “All Good Intentions” but that doesn’t matter. I doubt I'll make any money on it either. But I can't just sit and do nothing. As long as a few people like what I’m doing that’s reason enough to try.”
So hope to hear something new from him in the future.
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