Robert was born to Robert Donald Grant McKay, an entrepreneur and Shirley Jean (Hadden) McKay, a registered nurse, on March 2nd, in the hamlet of Desbarats, Ontario, Canada. His earliest memories of music were at square dances with his mother chording on piano, his father playing the violin, and calling. With the insistence of his mother, Robert began piano lessons at the age of five. By the time he was in grade school, he had been participating in both solo singing and poetry reading in a nearby city. As his confidence grew, Robert entered his writing and drawings into contests at the local fair and won ribbons.

In 1966 the family moved to Dallas, Texas. Robert's classical training continued, and emotional connection to music changed when he became a keyboard player for a local band, the Sticks. Along with Bob Lincoln (lead vocalist), Duane Medlin (lead guitarist), Jack Mitchell (drums), and Larry Tagg (bass), they eventually became one of the most popular bands in Texas. Initially an R&B group, the band decided to break into the evolving Rock ‘n Roll scene. Their music became inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Yes, Led Zeppelin, and many others.

By 1968, Robert's family moved on from Dallas while he stayed behind to further his music education. He studied as a composition major at North Texas State, now known as North Texas University. Robert dove into the studies of vocal technique and the pipe organ, discovering he had an interest in French Organ Music by Marcel Dupre. At the same time, the Sticks' repertoire and popularity grew, and his desire to write stirred. He released his first solo project in 1971. A local church allowed him to record live pipe organ, but the vocals and percussion tracks added, then mixed at a Dallas recording studio. After completion, he spent months in LA pitching it to as many record labels as would let him in the door. Antilles Records, a division of Island Records, showed interest by putting the project on a shortlist of artists to be signed, which ultimately did not happen. Dr. Austin Lovelace, a celebrated choir conductor, composer, and organist, mentored him during his years at university and the following five years.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, became Robert's permanent home in 1978 when he joined his father and sister in the venture of owning their first car dealership. He became focused on the business, which by 1992 had grown to seven franchises. During this period, he continually kept track of his music and lyric ideas. He continued to study with a vocal coach and sang with a jazz group. Robert started getting hired for weddings, funerals, and soloist opportunities at local churches. When his father passed in that same year, Robert once again faced the ongoing dilemma of staying in business or committing to his musical dreams. He sold his share of the company to focus on writing. By 1996, Robert released his second project on cassette. Between releases, he continued to pile up the ideas never without a small recorder close at hand, keeping track of the constant flow of ideas. In 2002, he released his self-titled album and another in 2013 under the alias of Electronic Einstein.

Today, Robert has a part-time job in a BDC department for a local automotive dealer group but spends the majority of his time working his craft. Along with a soon to be released five-song EP titled "Moon Plaza," he is finishing a book of poetry titled "Lyrics Looking For A Song." Another EP is in the works, expected for release in early 2020. All the while, he finds time to be a family man and enjoy his favorite pastimes; movies, boxing, good ole' American football, and being an active Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Valley of Minneapolis.