Robert Lighthouse

Robert Lighthouse is a Swedish-born blues musician whose passion for the Mississippi Delta Blues was sparked at age fourteen after hearing a Muddy Waters field recording. Born Ivan Robert Palikoca in 1963 to a Swedish mother and Croatian father, he moved to the United States at 18 to immerse himself in American roots music, traveling extensively from Chicago's Maxwell Street to New Orleans before settling in Washington, D.C. His music blends deep blues traditions with his unique style, often playing guitar, harmonica, and percussion simultaneously. Over his career, he has released several critically acclaimed albums including *Drive-Thru Love* and *Deep Down in the Mud*, both available on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Robert has shared stages with blues legends such as Taj Mahal and Johnny Winter, and has garnered praise for his skillful harmonica playing and heartfelt performances. Beyond music, he has toured war-torn Ukraine multiple times since the conflict began, performing for audiences living amidst danger and raising funds for frontline troops, an experience that deeply affected him personally. Currently signed with Grammy winner Kevin McKendree's Qualified Records, he continues to release new singles like "If They Won't Book You in Heaven" and "She's Right," carrying forward his mission to keep the blues alive across borders and generations.