Who is Robert Valentine?
More recently, he portrayed Nathan B. Stubblefield in an award-winning history program on public television, and was a featured actor in the film, Revelation Trail. He continues to perform throughout the country (as no one appears able to stop him) and is often the compere at such events as storytelling festivals and Celtic-tradition festivals including the Smoky Mountain Highland Festival and Games, the Georgia Mountain Highland Games, The MiddleTennessee Highland Games and Celtic Festival and the Dandridge Scots-Irish Music Festival.
He has appeared at Games in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida, and has been performing at festivals, Tartan Day events, Robert Burns Dinners, and St. Andrews Day observations for 30 years.
His favorite tales are of his Scottish heritage and the musical tradition of Ireland. He has appeared with such Celtic artists as Ian Bruce, Ed Smith, Colin Grant-Adams, Seven Nations, the Chieftains, Stirling Bridge, Albannach, the Celtic Martins and the late Alex Beaton. According to Bob, “Telling a wee story and hearing the laughter is the greatest joy I can imagine.”
When you hear him, you’ll find out why he feels that way.
Robert Andrew Valentine is a Master of Ceremonies (although he prefers the self-aggrandizing title, “Compere”). Bob is also a Master Storyteller and has been getting better since his mother first caught him in his first big lie nearly a century ago. The son of a Scottish father from Arbroath and a Swedish mother, he grew up with all the stories and traditions.
Bob has taught public speaking, advertising and storytelling at the University of Kentucky, Bethel College, and Murray State University. He was, for twelve years, the director of the American Storytelling Project for the National Scouting Museum. He has appeared on KET (Kentucky Educational Television, the Americana Television Network, Nostalgia TV and the 1982 World’s Fair.
