Robert Wagner – The Showman

I first met and photographed Robert Wagner in October 2020 during a performance by Suede Austin at Emerald Point Bar and Grill, now Vincent’s on the Lake. During the break, he asked me if I was getting any good shots. I told him I was but kept missing his kick. During the next set, he kicked three more times and I missed them all. I would chase that kick till I finally got it four months later. I have photographed him many times since in his group Rogue Collective, now called Rising Sons, as lead singer for Suede, his performances of Black Crowe’s Experience, Bad Company Tribute, and singing for Mark Miller‘s Tex Zep. He is the ultimate showman, executing perfectly what his father, Dick Wagner, wrote in his autobiography, “Not Only Women Bleed” about the time he played with Jerry Lee Lewis:

Somehow, I knew it was going to be an interesting evening after all. It is hard to describe how it felt to stand on stage and make music with such a great performer. But I know this: that night I learned the lesson of taking command of your audience, of reaching out to them and pulling them in. It’s not enough to simply play your instrument well. You need to sell the act of playing at the same time.

This man, Robert Wagner, has become one of my dear friends. In December 2020, I interviewed him with intention of starting a website or electronic magazine. Almost two years later, here is the synopsis of that interview.

Robert’s first stage performance occurred when he was about a year old when his dad took him on the stage. That combined with hearing his dad’s band playing in the basement of his house when he was 5 or 6 years old, influenced him toward the music world. However, it was around this time that his father and mother split. Dick Wagner, Robert’s father, was already an established musician at the time. Though Robert wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, resistance to this world came not from his mom but from himself. Robert had observed during the ’70s where such a lifestyle could lead. He did form a band but chose to be a professional bowler and did very well winning tournaments till an altercation with another band leader resulted in him damaging his thumb. Robert turned back to music full-time. After all, being a musician attracted more girls than bowling.

Robert listened to a lot of music, growing up with Led Zepplin, Family Stone, and the Four Seasons. There was not a dominant music genre that guided him. He just knew what he liked and would play a song over and over till he found another song that he liked.

The piano was the first instrument he learned. Like Paul McCartney, he was drawn to it. Robert would eventually get kicked out of many hotels because he would play the piano in the hotel lobbies. In his words, he was ‘super late’ in learning the guitar. He always messed with it and wrote songs but recently, around 2017, made the commitment to learn 35 songs and be able to play these so he could be self-sufficient.

Forming his first band Aziz in San Antonio, Texas, he incorporated the keys. He picked up the nickname “Bon Jovi” of metal because he had the look and allure and was always in front of the band. Aziz was a mixture of original and cover music. During this time he recorded a couple of records, one with his dad, who did eventually come back into his life. Dick Wagner even played on stage with AZIZ in October 1990 playing “You Really Got Me Now.“

Robert moved to Austin, Texas from San Antonio in 2005. He had played in Austin a few times before and knew he had to be there. Upon arriving, he sought to be self-employed so he could focus on his music. However, his karaoke business became very successful and pulled him more and more away from his music. He sold his business, bought a motorcycle, and began searching for musicians who were serious players. He met Xavier Muriel, who had just gotten back from Los Angeles. They formed the band Brother Love. Their first album was recorded at Dick Wagner’s recording studio in Saginaw, Michigan.

After touring for 3 to 4 years, the band broke up. Xavier went back to L.A. and started playing with Buckcherry. Robert went back to Austin and started playing cover music. His life changed with a call from John Lockart. Robert auditioned for the group Suede. A few days later, John called and said, “He was the man.” Robert and Suede celebrated 15 years in August 2022. His friend, John Lockhart was not there to celebrate as he passed away in early 2020.

Robert plays around 200 nights a year as the lead singer of Suede Austin, Black Crowe’s Experience, Rising Sons, and Bad Company tribute. Such happens because, as he wrote in the forward of my second book, “Resurgence: Austin Music is Live“, ‘single-minded inner force, lots of dedication, and reinforcements from the people he works with, and the fans, and the requisite blood, sweat and tears.’

As stated, Robert is my dear friend. My life has truly been blessed with him in it. He is just as giving off the stage as he is on the stage. He is my brother. Is it a coincidence that we both share May 24th as our birthday?