Showbiz

Robert John ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 79: Chart-topping Sad Eyes crooner pᴀssed away years after suffering a stroke Robert John – famous for his 1979 hit Sad Eyes – has died at the age of 79. The chart-topping crooner pᴀssed away on Monday, years after suffering a stroke.

Robert John ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 79: Chart-topping Sad Eyes crooner pᴀssed away years after suffering a stroke
          
          Robert John - famous for his 1979 hit Sad Eyes - has died at the age of 79. The chart-topping crooner pᴀssed away on Monday, years after suffering a stroke.

Robert John — famous for his 1979 hit Sad Eyes — has died at the age of 79.

The chart-topping crooner pᴀssed away on Monday, years after suffering a stroke, his son, Michael Patrick, confirmed to Rolling Stone on Tuesday. 

He is survived by his four sons, several grandsons, his former wife Diane, and his partner Susan. 

Born Bobby Pedrick, Jr., in Brooklyn, New York, John began his music career at age 12 with the 1958 single, ‘White Bucks and Saddle Shoes,’ which reached No. 74 on the H๏τ 100.

After changing his name in 1965, he achieved major success in 1971 with his cover of The Tokens’ hit ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight.’

His rendition peaked at No. 3 on the H๏τ 100 and No. 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Robert John ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 79: Chart-topping Sad Eyes crooner pᴀssed away years after suffering a stroke
          
          Robert John – famous for his 1979 hit Sad Eyes – has died at the age of 79. The chart-topping crooner pᴀssed away on Monday, years after suffering a stroke.

Sad Eyes singer Robert John has died at the age of 79. The crooner pᴀssed away on Monday, years after suffering a stroke, his son, Michael Patrick, confirmed to Rolling Stone; seen circa 1970

He continued to make hits throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including ‘If You Don’t Want My Love’, ‘Hushabye’, and ‘When the Party Is Over.’ 

His biggest hit came with the 1979 song Sad Eyes, which topped the Billboard H๏τ 100, and reached the Adult Contemporary top 10.

Sad Eyes told the story of a man ending a casual relationship as his partner was returning.

The lyrics include: ‘Looks like It’s over, you knew I couldn’t stay / She’s comin’ home today / We had a good thing, I’ll miss your sweet love / Why must you look at me that way? / It’s over.’

Read More Project Runway contestant Sha’Vi Lewis ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 39 leaving his shell-shocked family in ‘disbelief’ article image

Meanwhile the chorus features the lines: ‘Sad eyes, turn the other way / I don’t want to see you cry / Sad eyes, you knew there’d come a day / When we would have to say goodbye.’

Sad Eyes ended the six-week reign of The Knack’s ‘My Sharona’ on the charts and reached the Top 10 in Canada and Australia, while narrowly missing the Top 30 in the UK. 

The song earned him a Grammy nomination for best pop vocal performance.

The song was featured on his self-тιтled third album, which peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard 200. 

Following the mᴀssive success of Sad Eyes, John achieved two more minor hits in 1980 with ‘Lonely Eyes’ and ‘Hey There Lonely Girl.’

He previously told Rolling Stone: ‘I look at the charts and see my name, but I still have trouble believing it’s really me.’

Born Bobby Pedrick, Jr., in Brooklyn, New York, John began his music career at age 12 with the 1958 single, 'White Bucks and Saddle Shoes,' which reached No. 74 on the H๏τ 100

Born Bobby Pedrick, Jr., in Brooklyn, New York, John began his music career at age 12 with the 1958 single, ‘White Bucks and Saddle Shoes,’ which reached No. 74 on the H๏τ 100

His biggest hit came with the 1979 song Sad Eyes, which topped the Billboard H๏τ 100, reached the Adult Contemporary top 10, and earned him a Grammy nomination

His biggest hit came with the 1979 song Sad Eyes, which topped the Billboard H๏τ 100, reached the Adult Contemporary top 10, and earned him a Grammy nomination

His career continued to flourish into the 1980s. It was then he released 'Back on the Street', which would be his last album

His career continued to flourish into the 1980s. It was then he released ‘Back on the Street’, which would be his last album

‘I didn’t think the song would be the first single from the album. It’s a ballad, and I thought the company was crazy to release it,’ he added.

His career continued to flourish into the 1980s. 

It was then he released ‘Back on the Street’, which would be his last album. 

In total, John charted 10 H๏τ 100 singles and five Adult Contemporary hits. 

For the past few decades, John performed only occasionally and lived with his family in Las Vegas. 

Related Posts

EXCLUSIVE
Ross Kemp reveals touching discovery writing Dame Barbara Windsor’s eulogy that left him so moved he immediately called her husband

EXCLUSIVE Ross Kemp reveals touching discovery writing Dame Barbara Windsor’s eulogy that left him so moved he immediately called her husband

Ross Kemp has revealed a touching moment he experienced when he had the honour of writing Dame Barbara Windsor’s eulogy. The Bridge of Lies host, 60, shared with…

Millie Mackintosh shows off her sizzling figure in a skimpy green ʙικιɴι and shares gallery of sweet family holiday snaps from Maldives trip

Millie Mackintosh shows off her sizzling figure in a skimpy green ʙικιɴι and shares gallery of sweet family holiday snaps from Maldives trip

Millie Mackintosh has shared a series of idyllic snaps from her getaway to the Maldives with her family over the Easter break. The former Made In Chelsea star, 35,…

Katie Price’s wild Easter Sunday: Model, 46, lets loose in a ball pit and fires a confetti canon as she parties with fans at Bolton nightclub

Katie Price’s wild Easter Sunday: Model, 46, lets loose in a ball pit and fires a confetti canon as she parties with fans at Bolton nightclub

Katie Price let her hair down on Easter Sunday as she partied the night away at Level nightclub in Bolton.  The model, 46,  left her fans waiting for 90…

EXCLUSIVE
I took on Bridge Of Lies and was left red-faced by a mortifyingly simple blunder – there’s a reason the quiz is NOT as easy as it looks

EXCLUSIVE I took on Bridge Of Lies and was left red-faced by a mortifyingly simple blunder – there’s a reason the quiz is NOT as easy as it looks

Sat on the couch with a bag of popcorn and a glᴀss of wine in hand, I have often dubbed myself a confident TV quiz player. But during…

Queen Of Versailles star Jackie Siegel reveals how she’s coping after devastating double loss

Queen Of Versailles star Jackie Siegel reveals how she’s coping after devastating double loss

Jackie Siegel has opened up about the pain of losing her husband David Siegel and sister Jessica Mallery within the span of just three days. The Queen Of…

Lisa Rinna reveals heartbreaking reason she threatened to kill husband Harry Hamlin

Lisa Rinna reveals heartbreaking reason she threatened to kill husband Harry Hamlin

Lisa Rinna is reflecting on the painful postpartum depression she endured after starting a family with husband Harry Hamlin.  The RHOBH alum, 61 – who recently turned heads at…