Robert Emmet Dunlap was born in South Boston and now lives on Cape Cod. He has worked as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter in both the U.S. and Ireland, performed and recorded with such artists as Delaney Bramlett, L.A. hit songwriter Dillon O’Brian, Metropolitan Opera award winner Dennis McNeil, “Titanic” trad band Gaelic Storm, and was lead guitarist for Los Angeles’ premier Irish band, Ken O’Malley and The Twilight Lords (with Glenn Cornick of Jethro Tull), for eight years. He has done numerous theater productions at the Celtic Arts Center in Hollywood and did a weekly ten-minute spot for Irish Radio from L.A.

While living in Ireland, “Boston Bob” spent a year touring with bass player and rock legend Noel Redding of “Jimi Hendrix Experience” fame, and developed an increasing love for Irish tunes and ballads that he brought with him to Los Angeles. Hosting a weekly session at the Celtic Arts Center on Hollywood Boulevard, “Robert Emmet’s Flying Circus”, he juggled everything from jazz standards to blues, Irish, Scottish, and American folk songs, Show tunes, Opera singers, and the “International Celtic Samba Band.”

Bob’s song, Mick Ryan’s Lament, has struck a chord with people worldwide for it’s heartfelt tale of the ironies of war. The song has been recorded by many artists, including bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien on his 2001 CD Two Journeys, and by Tim O’Brien and Darrell Scott on their 2012 CD, We’re Usually a Lot Better Than This. Tim also performed the song in March, 2016 at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland, as part of their Imagining Home Concert Series in recognition of 100 years since the Irish Rebellion. It has also been recorded by hit songwriter Dillon O’Brian, gifted singer and instrumentalist Ken O’Malley and The Twilight Lords, world-renowned fiddler Kevin Burke with Ged Foley, country artist Ray Doyle, and Cape Cod favorites Stanley & Grimm (Sean Brennan and Nikki Engstrom). The song, recorded by Ray Doyle, was included in the documentary film, Bravo! Common Men, Uncommon Valor, about the Vietnam war.

Bob and his partner, Kathi Taylor (drums, percussion, vocals) are full time musicians on Cape Cod. They perform as a duet (BobKat and RedKat Duet), as well as with Sean Brennan in the rockin' Celtic Americana trio "The Skiffs" (regulars at O'Shea's Olde Inne in West Dennis). They also perform as a trio with renowned fiddler Rose Clancy (Chatham Fiddle Company), playing traditional Irish music and songs.