Robert Crotty

Robert passed from this planet, peacefully, in his sleep, on Friday, August 12, 2011. Robert C. Crotty, accomplished musician, legendary guitarist, blues scholar and story teller of Forest Street, Hamden. Beloved brother of Edward C. Crotty Jr. of Westbrook, Kevin M. Crotty of Washington, Michael S. Crotty of Middletown and Timothy P. Crotty of Granby, and is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was the friend, mentor and band mate of hundreds of musicians from the greater New Haven area, many of whom now live across the United States and other countries alike. Born May 7, 1954 in New Haven, son of the late Edward C. and Elizabeth Kerrigan Crotty.

A gathering of friends, family and remembrance will be held at Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT on Tuesday, August 16th from 4:00-8:00 pm. Services and internment will be private. Contributions in Robert's memory may be made to the Community Dining Room, 30 Harrison Avenue, Branford, CT 06405.

"It may be that the gulfs will wash us down: It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’ we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

What the critics are already saying: "This album could have been recorded in the 50's, 60's, 70's...it's hard to tell. Crotty and Lavorgna are so locked into each other's playing - it makes this cd an incredible blues find...it's the real deal...a must for any blues collection." - Blues in the Night

Hear Robert Crotty LIVE on WPKN.ORG (89.5 FM) on Sunday, March 28th at 8:30 PM

"He talks the blues, lives the blues. A gaunt, weathered figure, he even looks the blues. And he plays the blues, exquisitely arranged tunes on the acoustic guitar, raucous numbers on the electric guitar. He's kept the blues going in New Haven area bars since the early '70s." - New Haven Advocate

Robert Crotty on WFMU 91.1

Playlist for Janitor From Mars with R. Lim - October 19, 2003

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October 19, 2003: Money From the Night Doesn't See the Light of Day

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Robert Crotty, drumming with 'The Pearly Grates', Enormous Room, Yale University, December 1969

"I also learned a lot about honest singing from Robert Crotty, a blues musician in the New Haven area who never relies on 'techniques' or affectations. Very, very few vocalists can resist the urge to resort to affectations when they want to have an 'impact.'" -Suzanne Langille

"Guitar, vocals. Electric, acoustic and 12-string guitarist who mainly records in spontaneously improvised setting." -Ron Wynn

"Robert Crotty taught me how to tune my guitar on the 5th fret when we were knee-high to grasshoppers. We jammed for hours in his basement and in mine. As I settled into my role as the bass player...Robert's guitar career launched him into the stratosphere and he's never looked back. Nobody plays like him-NOBODY!" -David Bobo Lavorgna