Percussionist born in Painesville, Ohio, US.

His early training was with his uncle, William Hruby at the Hruby Conservatory of Music in Cleveland. He later studied with [[artist:4378693]] at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Roman Sculz at the Berkshire Music Festival, William Street at the Eastman School of Music and [[artist:759313]] at Julliard. His military service was spent as a percussionist with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point.

Before joining the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1964, Robert Pangborn held the positions of principal timpanist with the [[artist:2576208]], mallet percussionist with the Cleveland Orchestra, and timpanist/percussionist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York City.

In addition to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra he formed several chamber percussion groups including the Detroit Percussion Trio, 4 for Percussion and Mostly Mallets.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he performed as set drummer with [[artist:2038512]] a “cross-over” pop-rock group.