Robby Romero

Musician, singer, songwriter, producer and director, Robby Romero, rose to prominence in 1990 with his first music video, “Is It Too Late”. He's had the privilege and opportunity to share the stage with the likes of Cat Stevens, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, and John Lee Hooker. As a musician, Romero’s groundbreaking and award-winning “Native Rock” music has taken him from beyond the heart of Indian Country and is named a United Nations Ambassador Of Youth For The Environment. In the last twenty years, Romero has helped fill the gap between east and west, Indigenous Peoples, human rights, and the environment through his non-profit organization and Native Children's Survival, by using the international languages of music and film.
Famed actor, Dennis Hopper, served as his guardian growing up in Taos, New Mexico. Romero was heavily encouraged by his parents and as well as Hopper and his talent quickly caught the attention of the close knit group of musical friends Dennis Hopper was affiliated with. By his teens, Robby was singing in Taos Plaza cantinas, appearing on Wolfman Jack’s pre-MTV Midnight Special, and sharing a stage with the The Band, Gene Clark, and Paul Butterfield (Source, "Taos Portraits")
Romero was signed to Island Records in 1989 but decided to go solo the following year. Romero then focused his efforts to form the innovative and critically acclaimed Native Rock band, Red Thunder in 1989. With roots deep in the heart of Indian Country, Red Thunder debuted live from the Apache Territories of the Southwest as part of MTV’s “Street Block Party” broadcast. “Red Thunder has commanded the largest audience of any contemporary Indian music group.” - Encyclopedia of North American Indians
Robby is the founder of Eagle Thunder Entertainment (ETE), an artist-owned and operated independent Indigenous company consisting of four divisions: 1) Film Production, 2) Music Label, 3) Music Publishing, and 4) Management. ETE has reached millions of listeners and viewers from all walks of life through global releases, broadcasts, and live musical tours. (Source, "Eagle Thunder)
Romero's work with Native American activist Dennis Banks (books: Ojibwe Warrior Sacred Soul) would change the course of Robby’s life and put him on the red road he was born to follow. Romero founded Native Children's Survival in 1989 in the aftermath of the 1986 catastrophic nuclear disaster in Chernobyl. His first music video campaign “Is It Too Late” was broadcast around the world from the Kremlin following President Gorbachev's historical environmental speech at the 1990 Global Forum in Moscow and at the United Nations General Assembly, UN Headquarters in New York City, where he was presented the title of United Nations Ambassador of Youth for the Environment and a certificate of appreciation from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) signed by Executive Director Mostafa K. Tolba.
On behalf of Native Children’s Survival, Romero created a series of PSA's as part of MTV's "Free Your Mind" campaign to introduce the music television generation to contemporary Native Peoples and to help support legislation then in Congress to protect Native Peoples Sacred Sites and Freedom of Religion. The "Free Your Mind" campaign won the industry's prestigious CableACE Award.
Robby was featured on CNN’s “Earth Matters” and his music and likeness were featured on the TBS star-studded hit cartoon “Captain Planet.” Robby & Red Thunder made a special appearance on the PBS hit show “Puzzle Place” that went on to become the most watched and requested episode of the series. Romero's band Red Thunder features a lineup of Indigenous musicians from around the world weaving traditional (pre-Columbian) instruments, including an innovative American Indian traditional drum kit, with contemporary western instruments. Encyclopedia of North American Indians
Romero’s work has premiered on national and international networks from MTV, VH1 and Sundance Channel, to SABC Africa, ZDF Europe, and ORT Channel One Russia.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu