Robert Eustis, Singer, Songwriter, Multiinstrumentalist

A founding member of Desoto Street Band, Robert Eustis grew up in Uptown New Orleans on New Orleans R & B and rock and roll. He played ukulele and baritone ukulele while in grade school and entertained at family and school events. His interest in acoustic music grew while he was in college in Colorado. He started to hang out at clubs in Denver's Lodo - Lower Downtown. He listened to Texas singers/song writers Steve Fromhotz, Dan McCrimmon and Jerry Jeff Walker.

After his return to New Orleans, Robert immersed himself in the local piano scene, absorbing the genius of James Booker at the Maple Leaf Bar and at Toulouse Theater, before, after and during intermission of the stage production "One Mo' Time."

Robert served as chairman of WWOZ Radio during the mid 1980s and was instrumental in relocating the station from the second floor of Tipitina's to Louis Armstrong Park.

During the early 1990s, the muse struck and he began studying with guitar virtuoso John Rankin. The muse was fed by further study with Jorma Kaukonen, Martin Simpson and Steve James.

Desoto Street Band was formed in June 2001.

In December of 2006, Eustis played and sang duets with Spencer Bohren at Bohren's 10th annual Christmas show at Snug Harbor on Frenchmen Street, a major night life district located just down river from the French Quarter.

Robert plays several instruments including guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, lap steel, and bouzouki. He sings and writes music, lyrics and arranges tunes. top