 While attending CSUN, (California State University at Northridge) Rawlins saw a notice on a bulletin board that composer/arranger Sammy Nestico was teaching a big band and was looking for musicians at nearby Pierce College.Rawlins joined the band for the next two years learning much from Nestico in advanced composition and orchestration techniques.In 1974 Rawlins played keyboards with a top 40 band touring throughout Western Canada.