Bobby Day
| Bobby Day | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert James Byrd |
| Born |
July 1, 1930 Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
| Died |
27 July 1990 (aged 60) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Soul music, R&B, pop, rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 1957–1990 |
| Associated acts | The Hollywood Flames |
Robert James Byrd (July 1, 1930[1] – July 27, 1990), known by the stage name Bobby Day, was an American rock and roll and R&B musician.[2]
Biography
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Day moved to Los Angeles, California, at the age of 15. As a member of the R&B group, The Hollywood Flames,[2] he used the stage name Bobby Day to perform and record. He went several years with minor musical success limited to the West Coast, including being the original "Bob" in the duo Bob & Earl. 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.[3]
Day's best known songwriting efforts were "Over and Over" made popular by the Dave Clark Five in 1965,[4][5] and "Little Bitty Pretty One" popularized by Thurston Harris in 1957,[6] Clyde McPhatter in 1962 and the Jackson Five in 1972. However, Day is most remembered for his 1958 solo recording of the Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 hit, "Rockin' Robin", written by Leon Rene under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold record.[7] "Rockin' Robin" was a song covered by Bob Luman at Town Hall Party on October 28, 1958, The Hollies in 1964, Gene Vincent in 1969, Michael Jackson in 1972, and by McFly in 2006.
In 2012-2013, his uncharted recording, "Beep-Beep-Beep", was the musical soundtrack for a US-nationwide Kia Sorento television commercial.
Sometimes referred to as a one-hit wonder, despite numerous recordings with a variety of record labels, Day never achieved another Top 40 hit apart from "Rockin' Robin".
Day died of cancer in 1990, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.[8]
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||
| 1957 | "Little Bitty Pretty One" | 57 | — |
| 1958 | "Rockin' Robin" | 2 | 1 |
| "Over and Over"A | 41 | 1 | |
| "The Bluebird, The Buzzard, and The Oriole" | 54 | — | |
| 1959 | "That's All I Want" | 98 | — |
| "Gotta a New Girl" | 82 | — | |
| 1960 | "Gee Whiz" | 103 | — |
- AB-side of "Rockin' Robin"
References
- ↑ "Bobby Day, 60, Singer-Songwriter". Seattle Times Company. July 30, 1990. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1990 - 1991". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
- ↑ "Bobby Day Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 14 April 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. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
- ↑ "Little Bitty Pretty One - Thurston Harris : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
- ↑ 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. (30 July 1990). "Bobby Day; Had No. 2 Hit With 'Robin'". Los Angeles Times.