Rob Perna Jr on Music, Visual Arts, and Overcoming Challenges | FreeMind Local: West Chester, PA
FreeMind Network
In this episode of FreeMind Local, we sit down with Rob Perna Jr, also known as Funky Starchild, to explore his journey in music, visual arts, and community impact. As the lead guitarist and vocalist of The New Kings of Rhythm and Onyx and Honey, Rob shares his experiences in the West Chester music scene, how he developed his visual arts skills, and his involvement in the Lookaround Music and Arts Festival.
Rob also opens up about his legal struggles, incarceration, and how he turned that experience into personal growth by writing over 400 songs and teaching 50 inmates how to play guitar. From balancing music, art, and teaching to navigating life after prison, this conversation is a deep dive into the power of resilience, creativity, and community.
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Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to Rob Perna Jr
05:30 – The origins of Onyx and Honey
12:45 – Exploring visual arts during quarantine
18:30 – The West Chester arts scene and community spaces
25:10 – Musical influences and band evolution
33:00 – Legal struggles and time in prison
41:50 – Returning to music and rebuilding a career
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#FreeMindLocal #RobPernaJr #MusicJourney #VisualArts #WestChesterPA #BluesMusic #FunkMusic #CommunityImpact #LocalArtists #MusicPodcast #IndependentMusic
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