Robert John

Robert John ( born 1946 in Brooklyn, New York, real name Robert John Pedrick Jr. ) is an American singer and songwriter. His trademark is his tall, bright falsetto voice.

Life

Already as a teenager he was with a group of street musicians in New York and on the road at age 12 he was already making his first recordings. At that time he was still known as Bobby Pedrick and successful. His debut single White Bucks And Saddle Shoes in the Doo Wop style 1958 reached number 74 on the U.S. charts. Pajama Party was another hit a year later, but missed the charts.

Thereafter, however, he could not build on this initial success, but changed throughout the 1960s by a record company to the next, at least half a dozen times he made ​​a fresh start at another label (including Shell, Duel, Diamond, MGM, Verve ). In 1963, he tried it briefly with tape as Bobby & The Consoles and had a limited to New York hit with the title My Jelly Bean. In 1967 he was once working as a music producer for the band The Carousel.

From 1968 he called himself then Robert John and slowly the success returned. With If You Do not Want My Love, he also had the same another chart hit, which came in the top 50 and even in the UK was successful. It was followed two years clock When The Party's Over and 1972, now he had landed at Atlantic Records, his first really big success with the cover version of a 10 year old number - one hits of tokens, The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Producer was token Member Hank Medress. The song originated from the South African song Mbube from the year 1939, in 1961 was a million-seller and also Robert John sold over a million copies in the U.S. and thus came to # 3 It was the only time that he also Germany was in the charts.

Then it was again a long time to calm him. Several years passed before 1979, he celebrated an amazing return. With the self-penned Sad Eyes, a gentle pop ballad, he rose on May 19 in the Billboard charts and 21 weeks later, on 6 October, he conquered the top of the U.S. charts. It was his second million seller, reaching in the UK after all, also ranked 31 Until the 1980s, he had a few more successes, including cover versions of Hey There, Lonely Girl, a similarly quiet number as Sad Eyes, and Sherry, a hit the Four Seasons. All songs have in common is that, as with the original performer of the falsetto vocals of Robert John particularly comes into its own.

1983, the pop singer was the last time represented 25 years after his first hit in the U.S. singles chart with Bread And Butter, formerly a No. 2 hit for the Newbeats.

Discography

Singles

Bobby Pedrick Jr.

  • White Bucks And Saddle Shoes (1958, Big Top )
  • Pajama Party (1959, Big Top )

Bobby & The Consoles

  • My Jelly Bean (1963, Diamond)

As Robert John

  • If You Do not Want My Love (1968, Columbia)
  • When The Party's Over (1970, A & M)
  • The Lion Sleeps Tonight (1972, Atlantic )
  • Hushabye (1972, Atlantic )
  • Sad Eyes (1979, EMI)
  • Lonely Eyes (1979, EMI)
  • Hey There, Lonely Girl (1980, EMI)
  • Sherry (1980, EMI)
  • Bread And Butter (1983, Motown )

Albums

  • On The Way Up (1971 )
  • Robert John (1979 )
  • Back On The Street ( 1980)
The Tokens List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1979 The Four Seasons (band)
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