Born: March 28, 1950 Primary Instrument: Oboe
Eddy Rollin was born in Brooklyn at the “Halfmoon Hotel” in Coney Island. His father was a Russian immigrant, came to this country in 1928. His mother was a loving housewife born in Brooklyn. One day while Eddy was watching “Sing Along with Mitch” with his parents on his livingroom floor, Mitch Miller an accomplished Oboe, English Horn player, played the English Horn and Eddy hearing that amazing sound fell in love with it instantly. Upon asking his mother what instrument was that, his mother not familiar with the instrument thought it was a French Horn. When Eddy went to Seth Low Junior Highschool music class he picked out the French Horn and knew it wasn't the right horn. Six months later the oboe player became frustrated trying to play the oboe. Eddy managed to trade many times to finally play the oboe. Eddy pretty much was a self taught oboist. There really wasn't an oboe teacher available. His first teacher advertised that he taught all instruments but in actuallity he was a banjo player. He gave lessons to Eddy teaching him folk songs that Eddy would learn from imitating his teacher. In Highschool he studied briefly with an oboe student and then Ronald Bennet. Mr. Bennet was his first real oboe teacher. Highschool was very frustrating for Eddy because he was persecuted by his orchestra conductor Dr. Silberman. As a result after highschool he stopped playing the oboe. This was a turning point in Eddy's life. He really couldn't decide what to do. One day while speaking to his cousin Ira Braus who was a virtuoso pianist, Eddy for some unknown reason asked about Ira's piano teacher, Mr. Rauch. Ira told him about his teacher and that he would come to NYC every month and take lessons with him. Eddy asked Ira if he could also take lessons with his teacher. After studing with Mr. Rauch for about 6 months, Mr. Rauch suggested that maybe you should go back to the oboe. Eddy decided to do just that. Mr. Rauch gave Eddy two names. One was Lois Wann (Julliard) and the other was Humbert Lucarelli (Hartt College Of Music). Well in those days they hadn't invented answer machines, so when Eddy tried to reach Lois Wann she was not at home, but Humbert Lucarelli was. A few days later Eddy met with Bert Lucarelli, who felt that Eddy had potential as an oboist. Bert taught at the Hartt College of Music in Hartford Connecticut. By the way a famous oboist by the name of Robert Bloom was the senior instructor there. So, Eddy took a ride on a train to Hartford and auditioned in front of one of the most famous oboist in the world, Robert Bloom. When Eddy tried to play the Telemann concerto in F Major his oboe malfunctioned. Robert Bloom offered his oboe to Eddy and Eddy finished the audition and was accepted to go to Hartt. He's been playing oboe ever since. In later years Eddy studied with many Tabuteau influenced oboists: Bert Lucarelli, Marc Lifschey, Ralph Gomberg, Elaine Douvas, Alan Vogel, to name a few. He also studied with the retired BSO oboist Fernand Gillet who was 93 at the time. Presently Eddy performs on Oboe, Oboe d'Amore, English Horn, Saxophones (Soprano, Alto and Tenor), Mizmah (Lebanese Oboe), Shennai, Sona, recorders, Kalimba, invented instruments: Twanger, Guitar Twanger (bowable 12 string), Angel Harp, Snake Horn, Elephant Horn, Vocals and Percussion. Eddy is a graduate of California Institute Of The Arts did post graduate work at Boston University and San Francisco State. His life was forever changed after the 2 years at Cal Arts. Steve Allen the MC of his graduation said, “Welcome to the unemployed”. It's been an amazing road every since. Before Eddy went to Cal Arts he hitch hiked across Canada, hopped a freight train and hitch hiked back across the US back packing his oboe. He played the oboe, improvisation and Bach Aria excerpts at every chance he could get. When Eddy stayed at the commune “The Brothehood Of The Spirit” (Warwick Mass.) in 1970 he had a dream that “Playing the oboe creates rainbows”,thus the quote on the top of the page, Eddy played with “The Future Primitive Art Ensemble” Butch Morris Orchestra, John Zorn's “Cobra”, etc., of course classical (chamber music, orchestras, soloist and his own funk band “The Inspirational Ensemble” to name a few. He's also toured in Europe, South East Asia and the continental United States. In 1996 Eddy joined Screen Actors Guild and has been also performing as an actor in Film and TV see www.EdwardMorrisRollin.com. Eddy is also a photographer (www.photognyc.com), recently published in a Simon and Schuster book called “Holy Headshots”, 2008. He is also a writer. He wrote his first screenplay based on his hitch hiking experience, “Summer Of '70” or “Hippie From Brooklyn”. I'd like to make it into a film if anyone has the interest in helping me. Please email any correspondence to IAMYOUPROD@aol.com or EDDYROLLIN@aol.com. Peace!!! Resume Multi-instrumentalist / instrument inventor / composer / teacher *Cell: (917) 886-7500 *Web: EddyRollin.com *Email: EddyRollin@aol.com WESTERN INSTRUMENTS PLAYED: Oboe, English Horn, Oboe d’Amore, Saxophones, Schawm, Recorders, Electric Bass, Percussion, Voice (Baritone). INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PLAYED: Mizmah, Shennai, Murli, Sona, Kalimba, African percussion. INVENTED INSTRUMENTS: Twanger, Electric Guitar Twanger, Angel Harp, Elephant Horn, Giraffe Horn, Snake Horn. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 10/17/2008-11/02/2008 “Beauty & The Beast”, Allentown, Pa. 19th Street Playhouse 07/01/2008 to present Principal Oboe Municipal Band Of Allentown 06/01/2007-07/01/2008 Principal Oboe, Marine Band Of Allentown, Allentown, Pa. 01/23/1999 to present “Eddy Rollin Ensemble”, Oboe, English Horn, Saxophone, etc. Performances at Connexions Gallery , Tri Tone Bar., Pa., Knitting Factory, CBGB, SOB’s, Freezone, ABC No Rio, etc. 06/16/2002 Lucas Ligeti Group performed at ABC No Rio. N.Y., N.Y. 02/17/2000 Mirror Image Studios, guest artist. Oboe and English Horn featured soloist. 10/24/1994 Four week Asian tour of musical “Aladdin”. Oboe, English Horn, Saxophone, Recorders. National Touring Musicals, Jeff Moss producer. 08/09/1993 Renaissance Faire, Recorder consort and Schawm. Tuxedo, New York. 01/01/1992-01/01/2003 Principal Oboe, Henry Street Settlement Orchestra. 01/01/1988-01/01/1996 Greenwich Village Orchestra. Robert Grehan Conductor. Principal Oboist, English Horn, Tenor Saxophone and soloist. 06/30/1992 Newport Jazz Festival. Performed with the Multi-Cultural Ensemble. Saratoga Springs, N.Y. DISCOGRAPHY / FILM SCORES: 01/2006 The Deep End Ensemble “Chidless Fortune” 07/2003 “Double U”, short film directed by Laurent Notaro. 01/2002 Winter Chill”, short film directed by Frank Slaten. 09/2002 Time For Healing, Composed, produced, performed on and recorded. Rollin Records 01/1999 Chapters 1988-1998, Post Prandials, performed on Sax and bass guitar. Artichoke Records 01/1998 The Book of Night Burning In A Garden Of Ice, M’lumbo (oboe solo) MAITRE’D RECORDS 01/1997 Straphangers’ Ball. Debut CD of the new group Straphangers’ Art Ensemble. Rollin Records 01/1993 Flight. Debut CD of the new group Post Prandials. Featured soloist. Artichoke Records. 01/1987 Fever Dream. Improvised solos. Tragic Mule Records. EDUCATION: 1973 California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, California: Bachelor of Music 1973-1974/1977-‘78 Boston University & San Francisco State University: Graduate work Rollin /
