Robert John

For other people named Robert John, see Robert John (disambiguation).
Robert John
Born January 1946 (age 70)

Robert John (born Robert John Pedrick, Jr. January 3 1946) is an American singer-songwriter perhaps best known for his 1979 hit single, "Sad Eyes", which reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Biography

John was born in Brooklyn, New York. Under the name of Bobby Pedrick, Jr., he first hit the pop chart in 1958 when he was only 12 years old with "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. As the lead singer of Bobby & The Consoles, he had the minor 1963 hit entitled "My Jelly Bean" on Diamond Records. By 1965, he had changed his name and signed with MGM records for two ill fated singles. In 1967, he signed a contract with Columbia records and released a string of singles with help from writing partner Mike Gately.

After a short tenure from 1970-1971 with Herb Alpert's A&M Records, 1971 brought his next hit, a cover version of The Tokens' 1961 hit, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", which climbed to No. 3 in 1972, selling over one million copies and receiving a gold disc awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America on March 15, 1972. Several years later, recording for EMI Records, John hit #1 with "Sad Eyes," one of the few chart-topping singles in 1979 that had no disco beat or disco influence.

The 1980s saw John recording for Arista Records with collaborator and guitarist Bobby Mancari and keyboardist Steve Butera. A newly recorded version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was released on his 1992 greatest hits album.[1]

Select discography

Albums

Singles

Year Title Chart positions
US US AC UK CAN
1958 "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" (as Bobby Pedrick, Jr.) 79
1963 "My Jelly Bean" (as Bobby & The Consoles)
1968 "If You Don't Want My Love" 49 42 21
"Don't Leave Me" 108
1970 "When the Party is Over" 71 60
1972 "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" 3 6 15
"Hushabye" 99 70
1979 "Sad Eyes" 1 10 31 3
"Only Time" 102 42
"Lonely Eyes" 41 49 61
1980 "Hey There Lonely Girl" 31 10 81
"Sherry" 70
1983 "Bread and Butter" 68
1984 "Greased Lightning"*

Source:[2]

References

  1. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 295–296. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 286. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.


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