Mix the enthusiasm of a city kid with equal parts of Wes Montgomery, Johnny Smith, and Howard Roberts, then season heavily with equal parts of Oscar Peterson and Charlie Parker. Stir vigorously for twenty years, and you’ve created the sound of Robert Conti! The most respected music critics continue to write rave reviews. Scores of other great musicians and fans worldwide continuously describe him as a dynamic virtuoso who delivers his musical message with mind-boggling technical precision! He generates the kind of musical heat and excitement that can bring an audience out of their chairs to roaring applause - then he delivers a ballad with a breathtaking command of harmony that can draw tears from the eyes of listeners. This extraordinary musician is now receiving the international recognition that he certainly deserves. Born in South Philadelphia, an area which has spawned a number of world renowned musicians, Robert Conti's interest in jazz guitar began to emerge around 1957 at the age of twelve. A self-taught musician, Conti credits a dozen lessons with Philadelphia guitar virtuoso, Joe Sgro, as pointing him in the proper direction. Conti turned professional in his early teens, performing nightly in the Philadelphia area with a variety of show groups, while spending his summers on the road. After high school graduation in 1963, he spent the next three years performing throughout the United States and Canada. In 1965, an impromptu visit to a relative in Jacksonville, Florida was the beginning of his twenty-two year residency in North Florida. In mid 1988, the veteran guitarist relocated to Southern California. In 2002, he relocated again to Las Vegas, Nevada. Robert Conti's credentials include numerous albums on the former Trend-Discovery, Time Is and Pinnacle Record labels. His recordings and concerts featured some of the most respected names in jazz, including: Gerald Wilson, Jimmy McGriff, Nick Brignola, Ray Pizzi, Ted Curson, Joe Pass, Claude Williamson, Mike Wofford, Pete Jolly, Milcho Leviev, Andy Simpkins, Carl Burnett, Herman Riley, et al. In addition, he has authored five well received methodology books and twenty instructional DVDs. One of the highlights of his career was the successful development of the Robert Conti Eight String Guitar, self-necessitated by a ten-year solo engagement in a Southern California hotel. His unique guitar incorporates two bass strings: the 7th is tuned to "B" and the 8th string is tuned to "F#." The concept that he envisioned in 1991 became a reality in 1993. A major company was so impressed by Conti's vision and design, they began production of a consumer model "Conti Eight String Guitar" in 1996. <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Robert+Conti">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.