BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
AARobert Rex Waller Jr. is a singer, songwriter, performer and professor living in Los Angeles, CA. Over the last 20+ years Waller has been the lead singer and one of the principal songwriters with the critically acclaimed country rock band, I See Hawks in L.A.
The Hawks have released ten studio albums and toured the US and Europe multiple times. Their songs have charted in independent Americana radio in US and Europe and have been placed in TV and films including Cobra Kai, Roswell, and True Blood.
Dave Alvin has called the Hawks “one of California’s unique treasures” and MOJO magazine named them “the finest country rock band on the planet.”
Waller has written, recorded, or performed with artists including but not limited to Phoebe Bridgers, Lucinda Williams, Carla Olson, Eddie Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Cheech Marin, Jackson Browne, Justin Townes Earle, Tom Petty, Tony Joe White, Chris Hillman, Aram Saroyan, Matmos, Herb Peterson, John York, David Jackson, Gabe Witcher, Rick Shea, Dave Alvin, James Intveld, Gregg Sutton, Tony Gilkyson, Raul Pacheco, Peter Case, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Bernie Leadon, and The Meat Puppets.
Waller and the Hawks have performed at some of the most legendary venues and festivals in Americana music including: McCabe’s Guitar Shop, Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago, Slim’s (SF), and Joe’s Pub (NYC). His festival appearances include: Kerrville Folk Fest, Stagecoach, Strawberry Festival (CA), Down On The Farm (Halden, Norway), Maverick Fest (UK), Belladrum Tartan Heart (UK), Hempfest (Seattle), French Broad River Fest (NC), Albino Skunk Fest (SC), and showcases at Folk Alliance.
In addition to his performing career, Waller is also a professor at the University of Southern California. Alumni from his legendary Writing for Visual and Performing Artists course are professionally active in all genres of the arts from TV and film to Broadway to popular and classical music to visual arts, architecture and video games.
Waller released Fancy Free, his first solo album of cover songs, in 2016. Waller’s second solo album, See The Big Man Cry, was produced by Carla Olson and is set to be released on BFD records on October 20th, 2023.
Waller lives in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles with his wise and understanding wife, three well-behaved children, and two adoring cats.
“Any fear of how some songs would fit are soon dispelled as Waller, JR ups his game to deliver an album I will be playing for a long, long time. He doesn’t just cover the songs but in a number of cases it will be his I reach for first in days to come as the definitive version.” –Maurice Hope, Americana UK
News and Reviews
Folk Radio UK Reviews STBMC
link to full article Robert Rex Waller Jr, the frontman for I See Hawks In L.A., continues his long-standing association with Carla Olson, who produces and plays guitar on See The Big Man Cry, his second solo album, which, like the first, Fancy Free, is a...
Lonesome Highway reviews STBMC
A founding member of the band I See Hawks In L.A. and a respected musician among his contemporaries, Robert Rex Waller Jr. releases his second solo project. A debut album of cover songs, FANCY FREE, appeared back in 2016 and this follow-up is produced by Carla Olson,...
Americana UK Video Premiere: Robert Rex Waller Jr “Gypsy Rider”
link to full article October 6, 2023 Andrew Frolish V Here’s the excellent new single from I See Hawks in L.A. frontman, Robert Rex Waller Jr. We get to see Waller lending his characterful voice to ‘Gypsy Rider’, the classic Gene Clark song. Alongside Waller, Carla...
Paris Move Reviews “STBMC”
Link to full article (Google Translate) For a good fifteen years, guitarist, singer and songwriter Robert Rex Waller Jr. has been the frontman of the famous I See Hawks in L.A., a flagship group of Americana and current alternative country across the Atlantic (ten...
Ralph McLean Plays “Tougher Than The Rest” on BBC Radio Ulster
listen to the program Tracklist 1 Chris Stapleton White Horse 2 Old Californio The Old King's Road 3 Teddy Thompson You Don't Know Me 4 Robert Rex Waller Jr Tougher Than The Rest 5 Allison Russell The Returner 6 Brian Houston Mary Eccles 7 Dave McKendry Belfast 8...