Artist. Advocate. Inspiration.

Born in San Jose, California, Bobby Gonz faced tremendous challenges, serving a life sentence starting at age 16. During his time in prison, he developed a distinctive songwriting style deeply rooted in themes of remorse, accountability, and personal transformation. Recognizing the healing power of creativity, Bobby founded “Away With Wordz” in collaboration with the Mental Health Department, creating a platform for incarcerated individuals to express their emotions and talents. His program became a model for rehabilitative efforts and featured the first-ever institutional broadcast channel dedicated to the arts.

Guided by the belief that legacy was all that was left to leave behind, Bobby spent years honing his craft, creating hundreds of songs, all while limited by the constraints of life behind bars. A pivotal moment occurred in 2018 when he performed for Grammy-winning rapper Common during his Hope & Redemption Concert at Valley State Prison.

Bobby’s deeply personal sharing along with a performance of the song “Time In Space” captured Common's attention, leading to an on-stage collaboration with him later that night in front of 4,000 people.

This experience was followed by Governor Jerry Brown commuting Bobby’s life sentence in recognition of his rehabilitative efforts.

Since his release in 2019, Bobby has achieved significant milestones in his musical career.

He has opened for Coldplay on multiple occasions, performed alongside Common and various other artists in institutions and youth detention centers, and released compelling projects, including a five-song EP titled “JUST ANOTHER SiLiCON VALLEY START UP” and a ten-song LP “iN THE JOURNAL OF MY JOURNEY” under his established imprint, Getaway Muzic, LLC.

Bobby’s sound is an eclectic blend of hip-hop, alternative rock, and rhythm and blues, emphasizing universal themes of imperfection and resilience.

His artistry serves as a voice for those navigating similar struggles, cultivating conversations around personal growth and healing.