Robert Navarro is an American pianist, arranger, producer, and educator, originally hailing from New York City, New York. He began his career as a versatile musician, delving into various roles including that of a therapeutic recreation specialist.
Navarro graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Music from City College. His musical education continued at Mannes College of Music (Extension Division for Jazz Studies) and Manhattan School of Music (Classical Studies) during his undergraduate years. He later earned a Master of Arts (MA) from New York University. His studies included private instruction from notable jazz figures such as Jackie Byrd, who taught jazz piano and Big Band arranging, as well as Harold Danko, John Lewis, Valerie Caper, Ed Summerlin (jazz arranging), and Ron Carter (jazz improvisation). Additionally, Navarro's engineering skills were honed under the guidance of esteemed engineers Jon Fausty and Kurt Upper.
In 1982, Navarro founded the band Grupo Fascinacion, featuring lead singers Johnny Rivera and Tito Gonzales. The group recorded three LPs for Rico Records. He produced works for Tipica 88 singers Jorge Maldonado and Tito Gonzalez, which were released under Cotona Records. Navarro also facilitated a mechanical license with the Tipica 88 production "Feria de la Salsa," allowing for distribution in Colombia and Ecuador.
Navarro co-produced two records for Charanga America, where he contributed many arrangements. He produced three records for Dominican artist Santiago Ceron across three different labels: Combo, Leomar, and Exclusivo Records. Serving as musical director for Fania Records, he collaborated with Luis Ramirez on the project "Onda Tipica," alongside Tony Fuentes and Papy Roman. Navarro has also participated in arrangements and piano duets with Oscar Hernandez, and produced a song for Jose Mangual Jr.'s LP "Que Lo Diga El Tiempo," specifically for the track "Dos Amigos."
In 1997, Navarro established his own production company, RNR Productions, Inc., and produced “Cathy Navedo” for Exclusivo Records. He worked with Eddie Palmieri on a project for “The Ballet Hispanico Puertorriqueno” and engaged in studio work with Larry Harlow. Navarro also recorded and co-produced for actor Angelo Pagan on his debut record for Morrowland Records in California. His work with recorded artists includes contributions to Tipica '88 and Conjunto Clasico, notably for “Quiereme” and “The 25 Anniversary” featuring Tito Nieves, the latter of which was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2004. In December 2007, he received a Grammy Award as an arranger for his work with Bobby Cruz on the album “Romanticos de Ayer, Hoy y Siempre,” specifically for the song “Envidia.”
Throughout his career, Navarro has performed with legendary artists such as Johnny Pacheco, Conjunto Clasico, Jose Mangual Jr., Pete “Conde” Rodriguez, Charanga America, Angel Canales, Camilo Azuquita, Machito and his orchestra, Mon Rivera, and Willie Colon. He has toured extensively, including South America with Celia Cruz and Frankie Ruiz, and Europe with Ray Barreto in 1989 and Eddie Santiago in 2004, as well as performing with Grupo Fascinacion and Santiago Ceron.
In 2007, Navarro relocated to Port Saint Lucie, Florida, where he teaches guitar, piano, violin, music theory, and music technology. He dedicates much of his time to composing, producing, mixing, and mastering recordings. Currently, he is studying classical literature and piano pedagogy under Tetyana Kuliusy, Ph.D., a graduate of the Tchaikovsky Kiev Conservatory in Russia.
