Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to a family that celebrated the arts, Robert Hoagland, now known as ROB Rise On Belief, was destined to be a performer from an earlier age. He was motivated by his uncle, John Blount, a founding member of the '50s doo-wop group, The Delroy's. He was also influenced and coached by his late mother, photographer Carolyn Hoagland, the singer-songwriter cites both people as his core inspiration for shaping him into the entertainer he is today.
In the early parts of his music career, ROB Rise On Belief made it his business to learn the technical and business side of the music industry by taking classes at The Center For Media Arts. He later attended the prestigious Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the Nubian Conservatory of Music, where he studied opera and vocal techniques. With all the knowledge and vocal skills, ROB Rise On Belief pursues his dream. He formed two bands, one in 2007 and the second in 2012. They were both six-piece rock bands. The first band consisted of the lead singer Robert Hoagland (ROB Rise On Belief), drummer Richie Harrison, keyboardist, bassist Mark "Abishai" Brooks, and guitarists Andre LaSalle and Kevin Hunter. The current band consists of lead singer Robert Hoagland (ROB Rise On Belief), drummer Daniel D. Drums, Keyboardist BX, bassist Mark “Abishai” Brooks, and guitarists Jules Drucker and Kent Thompson. Together, they combined eclectic sounds of rock, soul, and pop with hints of the 1970s and 80s flair, creating a distinctive sound all his own.
ROB Rise On Belief has performed on some of the most legendary stages throughout New York, including the famed Apollo Theater, Webster Hall, CBGBs, The Knitting Factory, The Cutting Room, SOBs, Arlene's Grocery, The Bitter End, The Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and Club Amazura. And he rocked out at a sold-out crowd at the Dewey Beach Music Festival. Dewey Beach music festival was one of ROB Rise On Belief's best shows. He could network with many bands, greet and sign autographs with the fans, and sell out most of his CDs and merch. But the most memorable and most challenging performance was ROB Rise On Belief rocking out at the Apollo Theater. Being on the stage where legends like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Hall and Oates, Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard, Roberta Flack, and The Jackson Five had performed was utterly mind-boggling. ROB Rise On Belief channeled the energy of all these performers and gave a show of a lifetime. Because if you don't rock the house at the Apollo theater, the crowd will boo you off the stage, and being a featured band for that night, he knew the band had to dig deep and give all they had. The crowd stood on their feet when ROB Rise On Belief walked on the stage and started singing Freedom by the legendary Jimi Hendrix. They started dancing and singing along with ROB, and at that very moment, he knew he had conquered one of the most challenging crowds in entertainment history. Once he finished his set, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
ROB Rise On Belief released two albums, “RISE ON BELIEF” and “BRIGHT FAME.” The first album, “RISE ON BELIEF,” was mastered by world-renowned mastering engineer Ted Jensen. Ted Jensen mastered albums for Diana Ross, Madonna, Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones, The Talking Heads, Green Day, Marilyn Manson, John Batiste, Bon Jovi, and Maroon 5. The second album, “BRIGHT FAME,” was mastered by the world-renowned engineer Fred Kevorkian. Kevorkian mastered albums for The White Stripes, Dave Matthews Band, Iggy Pop, The National, Sonny Rollins, Maroon 5, and Willie Nelson. And "BRIGHT FAME" was recorded at the famed Avatar Studios in New York, now known as Power Station. Recording the album "BRIGHT FAME" at Avatar, now known as Powerstation Studios, was another fantastic experience. He recorded the album in Studio A, where The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Whitney Houston, Duran Duran, Peter Gabriel, Aerosmith, Blondie, and Chic record their platinum-selling albums. ROB Rise On Belief said, recording his album in Avatar Studios was like being a kid in a candy store, and once everything was plugged in and all ready to go, they began to play like the very Legends who occupied Studio A before them.