Robby Takac
Robert "Robby" Carl Takac, Jr. (born September 30, 1964) is an American rock bassist and vocalist. Takac is one of the founding members of the Goo Goo Dolls, along with Johnny Rzeznik.
Background
Takac was born in Buffalo, New York and grew up in the Buffalo suburb of West Seneca with his parents and younger sister. He graduated from West Seneca East Senior High School in 1982. He graduated from Medaille College with a degree in Communications, with an emphasis on Radio Broadcasting. In his college years, he played in several bands and interned and worked at a local Buffalo radio station.
In 2008, Takac was named to the Medaille College Board of Trustees.
Music career
Takac began his musical career as a member of the rock band Monarch, prior to joining the Beaumonts, which broke up in 1985. He met guitarist John Rzeznik through the Beaumonts and together they found a drummer, George Tutuska and started a band which they named the "Sex Maggots", with Takac as the lead singer and bassist. In 1986, they changed their name to the more promotable "Goo Goo Dolls", and after three albums moved Rzeznik to the majority of lead vocals. In late 1994, Takac and Rzeznik fired their first drummer, George Tutuska; and in early 1995 hired Mike Malinin as a replacement. Later that year they received their first commercial success with the single "Name". The 1998 follow-up "Iris" reached number one on several charts, including the Hot 100 Airplay. Goo Goo Dolls have been releasing music and touring continuously since.
