Roger Voudouris

John Roger Voudouris (December 29, 1954 - August 3, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter/guitarist best known for his 1979 hit, "Get Used to It."

Voudouris was born in Sacramento, California and formed Roger Voudouris' Loud as Hell Rockers while still attending C.K. McClatchy High School, entering regular performances at the Elegant Barn Nightclub. That band would later enjoy small success while performing as an opening act for The Doobie Brothers, Stephen Stills and John Mayall. Voudouris also performed in Vadouris/Kahne with David Kahne, prior to being signed by Warner Brothers as a solo act.

His first solo album was the self-titled Roger Voudouris released in 1978 which received little interest from radio or other media. However, Voudouris' second album Radio Dream contained the pop hit "Get Used To It" peaking at #21 on 16–23 June 1979 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Get Used To It" hit #1 in Australia. Voudouris performed the song on the Merv Griffin Show.

Radio Dream was followed a year later with the 1980 A Guy Like Me album and later by the 1981 album On The Heels Of Love. While A Guy Like Me and On the Heels of Love did not achieve the success of his previous album, Voudouris did achieve quite a large amount of success in Japan where his musical style was very popular. He also became a small cult-figure in Australia after appearing on the popular music television program "Countdown" in August 1979. In his appearance on the show he wore a figure hugging white outfit while miming "Get Used To It" into a wind machine, which made his long hair flow. This led to his brief status as a sex symbol in that country.

After the decline of his solo career Voudouris returned to writing music and lyrics for various projects including the movie The Lonely Lady starring Pia Zadora, and a documentary on the life of Elvis Presley.

Voudouris died in 2003 after suffering from liver disease for some time. He was survived by three children from his first marriage, his former wife, and his then-wife, Jennifer (from whom he was separated).

Discography

Roger Voudouris (1978) - #? UK, #? US, #? Japan, US Sales: Unknown

Tracks:

1. Don't Turn My Music Down
2. What Are You Doing After Class?
3. Hold On, Let The Singer Sing
4. I'm There, Will I Ever Feel Good Again
5. Friends Forever
6. The Finger Painter
7. We're Out Of Time

Radio Dream (1979) - #? UK, #171 US, #? Japan, #46 Australia US Sales: Unknown

Tracks:

1. Get Used to It
2. Just What It Takes
3. Does Our Love (Depend On The Night)
4. We Can't Stay Like This Forever
5. Radio Dream
6. Anything From Anyone
7. We Only Dance 'Cause We Have To
8. The Next Time Around
9. Reprise

A Guy Like Me (1980) - #? UK, #? US, #? Japan, US Sales: Unknown

Tracks:

1. Guys Like Me
2. A Feeling For You
3. The Last Love Song
4. Jamie
5. On The Ladder
6. New Wave Shoes
7. Too Late To Change Her
8. Just Give Me Your Love (Tonite)
9. The Pain Of Adolescence
10. Still In Love With You

On The Heels Of Love (1981) - #? UK, #? US, #? Japan, US Sales: Unknown

Tracks:

1. Heels Of Love
2. When Two Divide
3. She's Too Cold
4. First Love
5. Let Her Get Away
6. Another Sad Love Song
7. I Can See Him (In Her Eyes)
8. Outgrowing Me

Hit singles

• 1979 "Get Used To It" US Billboard Peak #21

External links/references

• Roger Voudouris at AllMusic
• Link to Sacramento Bee, who published an obituary on Voudouris in August, 2003 (access to obit not free)
• Roger Voudouris at Find a Grave
• Video of Roger Voudouris on Countdown Australia on YouTube