Robbie King (musician)

For other people named Robert, Rob or Robbie King, see Robert King (disambiguation).

Robbie King (1947 – October 17, 2003)[1] was a Canadian musician, associated with many national and international acts.[1] He was most associated with his playing of the Hammond organ.

History

Born in Quebec in 1947, King came from a musical family. His mother played piano in his father's popular regional big band, Bob King and His Queens, an all-female band particularly popular in the 1940s. Returning from an engagement, King's father was killed in a car accident, which also badly injured both King and his mother.[1][2]

King's career as a professional musician commenced as a member of Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, which also included drummer Duris Maxwell. King and Maxwell developed a forty-year friendship and musical associations that commenced as of their time with Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, and ending with King's death.[3]

Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers were signed to the Gordy label of Motown Records. Based on that relationship, King later joined the studio musicians associated with Motown Records. In addition to contributing to various Motown recordings, King toured with The Supremes, among other Motown acts.[4]

King later was a founding member of Skylark,[1] a band that included David Foster. Skylark is most closely associated with the hit song "Wildflower", which has been the subject of multiple cover versions.

Following Skylark, King was a founding member of the Hometown Band. King also played the iconic organ part for the instrumental "Apache" recorded by The Incredible Bongo Band in 1973.

King settled in Vancouver, Canada and became a studio musician, playing keyboards on many hits, including Bryan Adams' "Heat of the Night".[4] He also spent approximately 20 years, starting in 1980, as a member of the Cal Batchelor Band and the Terry Edmunds Band 1985-2003.[5] Batchelor, as a member of Quiver, had previously been associated with the Sutherland Brothers.

King died from cancer on October 17, 2003, at the age of 56.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Uncredited, B.C. musician helped create Motown sound. Victoria Times Colonist, October 22, 2003. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
  2. ↑ The Sunday Night Blues, With Storman Norman, Robbie King Biographical Notes. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  3. ↑ Uncredited, Biography of Duris Maxwell; Johnny V's Webhouse. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  4. 1 2 Uncredited, Heat of The Night; www.jimvallance.com. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  5. ↑ Pacific Northwest Bands, Membership of The Cal Batchelor Band. Retrieved 2012-12-09.


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