Rob Burns (born Robert George Henry Burns, 24 February 1953), earlier also known as Robbie Burns, is an English/New Zealand bass player, author and academic. Dr. Burns' career spans five decades, encompassing the varied musical genres of Pop, Rock, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Gospel, Folk and Country. From the late 1970s until 1999 he toured and worked several sessions a week for artists of international fame, as well as for many major British TV shows, before embarking upon an academic career.Burns earned a PhD in music in 2008 and has published work in several academic publications. He resides in Dunedin, New Zealand, gaining citizenship of New Zealand on 4 June 2014 and is currently Honorary Associate Professor in the Music Programme (School of Performing Arts) at the University of Otago until 31st December 2020.