Robert James Byrd (July 1, 1930[1] – July 27, 1990),[2] known by the stage name Bobby Day, was an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and songwriter. He is best known for his hit record "Rockin' Robin", written by Leon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas.[3] Day also wrote the top-10 Billboard hits "Little Bitty Pretty One" (1957, Thurston Harris) and "Over and Over" (1965, the Dave Clark Five).
Bobby Day | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert James Byrd |
| Also known as | The |
| Born | July 1, 1930 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | July 27, 1990 (aged 60) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | *Doo-wop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 1950–1990 |
| Formerly of | The Hollywood Flames Bob and Earl |
Biography
editBorn in Fort Worth, Texas, United States,[4] Day moved to Los Angeles, California, at the age of 15.[4] His first recording was "Young Girl" in 1949 in the R&B group the Hollywood Flames, released in 1950 on the Selective Label. He went several years with minor musical success limited to the West Coast. He recorded under numerous other names: The Jets, The Voices, The Sounds, The Crescendos, and as the original "Bob" in the duo Bob & Earl with singer Earl Nelson. As a member of the Flames,[3] he used the stage name Bobby Day. His penned song, "Buzz Buzz Buzz" was that outfit's first and biggest success.[4] In 1957, Day formed his own band called the Satellites, following which he recorded three songs that are seen today as rock and roll classics.[5]
Day's best known songwriting efforts were "Over and Over", later made popular by the Dave Clark Five in 1965,[6][7] and "Little Bitty Pretty One", popularized by Thurston Harris in 1957,[8] Frankie Lymon in 1960, Clyde McPhatter in 1962, and the Jackson Five in 1972. However, Day is most remembered for his 1958 solo recording of the Hot 100 No. 2 hit, "Rockin' Robin",[4] written by Leon Rene under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold record.[9] "Rockin' Robin" was covered by Bob Luman at Town Hall Party on October 28, 1958, the Hollies in 1964, Gene Vincent in 1969, Michael Jackson in 1972, Lolly in 1999, and by McFly in 2006.
In 2012–2013, his uncharted recording, "Beep-Beep-Beep", was the musical soundtrack for a Kia Sorento television commercial shown nationwide in the US.
Day died of prostate cancer on July 27, 1990, at the age of 60, and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.[10]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- Rockin' with Robin (1959)
- The Best of Bobby Day (1984)
- The Original Rockin' Robin (1987)
- The Great Bobby Day (1994)
- Rockin' Robin (1994)
- The Best of Bobby Day (2001)
- The Very Best Of (2016)
- Robins, Bluebirds, Buzzards & Orioles - The Bobby Day Story (2021)
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Credited as | Chart positions | Release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||||
| 1950 | "Young Girl" / "Please Tell Me Now" | The Flames | |||
| 1952 | "Wheel of Fortune" / "Later" | The Four Flames | |||
| 1957 | "Buzz Buzz Buzz" | The Hollywood Flames | 11 | 5 | October 1957 |
| 1957 | "Little Bitty Pretty One" | Bobby Day and the Satellites | 57 | — | August 1957 |
| 1958 | "Rockin' Robin" | Bobby Day | 2 | 1 | June 27, 1958 |
| "Over and Over" | Bobby Day | 41 | 1 | June 27, 1958 | |
| "The Bluebird, the Buzzard, and the Oriole" | Bobby Day | 54 | — | November 26, 1958 | |
| 1959 | "That's All I Want" | Bobby Day | 98 | — | February 1959 |
| "Gotta a New Girl" | Bobby Day | 82 | — | May 1959 | |
| 1960 | "Gee Whiz" | Bob and Earl | 103 | — | |
Television appearances
edit- The Dick Clark Show (two episodes) (1958)
- American Bandstand (four episodes) (1958)
- The Cinnamon Cinder Show (1963)
- The Midnight Special (1973)
References
edit- ^ Talevski, Nick (May 2006). Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door. London: Omnibus Press. pp. 123–124. ISBN 978-1846090912.
- ^ Staff (July 30, 1990). "SINGER BOBBY DAY DIES OF CANCER AT AGE 60". Deseret.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1990 – 1991". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 648/9. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ "Bobby Day Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 188. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Chris Kenner. "Greatest Hits - The Dave Clark Five : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ "Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 100. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Boyer, Edward J. (July 30, 1990). "Bobby Day; Had No. 2 Hit With 'Robin'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
