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 | 1952–1990 |
| Associated acts |
The Hollywood Flames Bob and Earl |
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] Despite the similarity in personal and group names, this is not the Bobby Byrd that sang with, and was the founder of, the Famous Flames, the vocal group with which James Brown first began his career.
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 Kia Sorento television commercial shown nationwide in the U.S.
Day died of cancer in 1990 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.[8]
Singles
| Year | Title | Recording as | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | |||
| 1953 | "Wheel of Fortune" | The Four Flames | ||
| 1957 | "Little Bitty Pretty One" | Bobby Day and the Satellites | 57 | — |
| 1958 | "Rockin' Robin" | Bobby Day | 2 | 1 |
| "Over and Over"A | Bobby Day | 41 | 1 | |
| "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" | Hollywood Flames | 11 | 5 | |
| "The Bluebird, The Buzzard, and The Oriole" | Bobby Day | 54 | — | |
| 1959 | "That's All I Want" | Bobby Day | 98 | — |
| "Gotta a New Girl" | Bobby Day | 82 | — | |
| 1960 | "Gee Whiz" | Bob and Earl | 103 | — |
- AB-side of "Rockin' Robin"
References
- ↑ "Bobby Day, 60, Singer-Songwriter". Seattle Times Company. July 30, 1990. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- 1 2 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.