Robby Takac
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Robert Carl Takac, Jr., known as Robby Takac (born September 30, 1964 in Buffalo, New York) is one of the founding members of the Goo Goo Dolls, along with Johnny Rzeznik. He is the band's bassist. He has been known to play concerts barefoot. Currently, when not touring with the Goos, Robby works as a producer and in 2002, he opened ChameleonWest recording studio, where he works with undiscovered talent in Buffalo. Robby lives in Los Angeles with his wife Miyoko, two cats, and over 1700 PEZ dispensers.
[edit] Childhood
Takac grew up in the Buffalo suburb of West Seneca with his parents and younger sister Trish. His first instrument was the ukulele, given to him at age two and by the time he graduated West Seneca East Senior High School in 1982, he had moved on to his first electric guitar. He graduated from Medaille College with a degree in Communications, with a focus on Radio Broadcasting. In his college years, he played in several bands and interned at a local radio station reading add's for a local toilet manufacturer.
[edit] Career
He was part of a punk band called the Monarchs until his cousin convinced him to join the Beaumonts, which broke up in 1985. He met guitarist Johnny Rzeznik through the Beaumonts and together they found a drummer, George Tutuska, starting the band, the "Sex Maggots," with Robby as the lead singer and bassist. They changed their name to the more promotable "Goo Goo Dolls," and after a decade of life as starving artists, they finally attained commercial success with the single "Name." He is also very involved with the Music is Art foundation in Buffalo.