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
Rocking Magpie Reviews “Fancy Free”
“…the beautiful Don’t Pay Them No Mind, written by Robert Ahlet and B Scott (?) and a hit for Nina Simone in 1967. Staggering only comes close to describing the lyrics and Waller’s sensitive and slightly haunting handling shows his voice off in a way I’d never expected.”
Red Dirt Report Gives “Fancy Free” 4 of 5 Rustys
Link to full article here ANDREW W. GRIFFIN | JULY 20, 2016 CATEGORY: RUSTY'S MUSIC RUSTY'S SCORE 4 4 Rustys ALBUM REVIEW: Robert Rex Waller, Jr. – Fancy Free(Western Seeds) 2016 Admittedly unfamiliar with Robert Rex Waller, Jr., or his popular roots-rock band I See...
UK Music Mag R2 Gives Fancy Free 4 Stars
“An album of cover versions is not usually my cup of tea but ‘Fancy Free’ by I See Hawks in L.A. lead singer Robert Rex Waller Jr, is a major exception.”
ANDREW DURKIN REVIEWS “FANCY FREE”
“I can’t think of a better way to balance out this weird, gaudy, myth-obsessed holiday (July 4th) than by listening, over and over, to this gorgeous new recording by modern master of emotionally complicated Americana.”
USC Dornsife: Inspired by his students’ willingness to take creative risks, Robert Rex Waller Jr. releases his first solo covers album
Fancy Free, the first solo album from singer and songwriter Robert Rex Waller Jr., takes the alumnus and associate professor (teaching) of writing in new directions — both musically and follicly.
By Susan Bell – June 27, 2016