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| Bobby Z. | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bobby Z. |
| Birth name | Robert B. Rivkin |
| Background | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Birth date | 1956 |
| Birth place | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Instruments | Drums, Percussion, Synthesizer |
| Genres | New wave, Pop music, Rock music, Funk |
| Occupations | Musician, Record producer, Actor |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Associated acts | Prince, The Revolution, Morris Day, Sheila E., Apollonia 6 |
Bobby Z. is an American musician and actor best known as the drummer for Prince and a founding member of The Revolution. Emerging from the Minneapolis sound scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he contributed to landmark albums and tours that influenced MTV, R&B, Pop music, and Funk. He later pursued session work, production, and occasional acting roles, collaborating with a variety of artists across Rock music and Dance music.
Born Robert B. Rivkin in Detroit, Michigan, he relocated to Minneapolis during childhood when his family moved amid the region's industrial and cultural shifts. He attended local schools in Hennepin County, Minnesota and studied percussion through community programs that connected him to venues such as First Avenue and scenes including New wave and Post-disco. Early mentors in the Midwest music circuit included session musicians who worked with acts at Paisley Park Studios and area producers linked to regional labels. His formative experiences intersected with touring acts that passed through Grosse Pointe, Ann Arbor, and St. Paul, exposing him to national artists and producers from labels like Warner Bros. Records.
Z.'s professional break came when he joined forces with Prince during the formation of the ensemble that became The Revolution. He performed on breakthrough releases such as 1999 and Purple Rain, contributing to chart success on Billboard Hot 100 and influencing programming on MTV. He was integral to the live presentation on the Purple Rain Tour and played at landmark events including the 1985 Grammy Awards and Live Aid-era benefit appearances associated with the decade's philanthropic concerts. After departing active touring with Prince, he continued studio work and launched production projects linked to independent labels and the broader Minneapolis sound community. His style blended drum-machine sensibilities from equipment like the Linn LM-1 with live drum techniques heard on Contemporary hit radio rotations.
Beyond his tenure with Prince and The Revolution, Z. worked with performers such as Morris Day, Sheila E., Apollonia 6, Sheena Easton, and guest musicians connected to Motown Records alumni. He recorded sessions for artists signed to Paisley Park Records and for producers cross-associated with Quincy Jones-influenced studio personnel. His session credits include drum tracks, programming, and arrangement input for releases circulating on Rhino Entertainment and period compilations archived by institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also collaborated with touring ensembles that opened for acts like The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, and David Bowie on select dates, and shared studio time with session veterans who recorded with Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone.
Z. appeared in visual media tied to Prince-era projects, including concert films and televised performances broadcast on MTV and syndicated music programs. He was featured in footage associated with Purple Rain tour archival material and in music videos that received rotation alongside artists such as Madonna, Duran Duran, and Cyndi Lauper. He made cameo appearances in independent films and guest spots on regional talk shows produced in Minneapolis and Los Angeles. His likeness and story have been cited in documentaries about Prince and the Minneapolis sound, screened at festivals like South by Southwest and preserved in museum exhibits at institutions such as the Experience Music Project.
Z. has maintained a private personal life outside the spotlight, residing intermittently between Minnesota and California. He has been involved in music education initiatives and clinics held at venues including Guitarmania workshops and community arts centers in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Philanthropic activities include benefit performances for regional causes and contributions to archival projects that document the history of Prince and associated acts. He has engaged with fan communities through conventions and curated memorabilia exhibitions displayed in galleries in Minneapolis and at private auctions associated with music collectors.
Z.'s drumming and production approach helped codify elements of the Minneapolis sound that influenced later R&B, Hip hop, New wave, and Synth-pop artists. His tenure with Prince and The Revolution placed him on seminal recordings that shaped playlists on MTV and charts compiled by Billboard. Contemporary drummers and producers cite his integration of electronic programming and live performance as formative when studying recordings archived by institutions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and collections at Paisley Park Studios. Exhibitions and oral histories continue to reference his role alongside peers like Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Brownmark, and Doctor Fink in chronicling the creative ecosystem that defined a generation of popular music.
Category:American drummers Category:Musicians from Minneapolis Category:1956 births Category:Living people