Lawrence Fewell Roberts II was born on November 23, 1940 in New York City. He moved to the Pacific Northwest as a child, his family settling in Tacoma, Washington. He started his singing career in the late '50s with Little Bill and the Blue Notes, but the Wailers quickly stole him away as a featured vocalist.
In 1960, Rockin' Robin Roberts happened upon a copy of a 45 by Richard Berry in a record-shop bargain bin. He played the flip-side, a song called "Louie Louie", and liked it enough to add it to the band's live act -- blunting the Latin/calypso-influence and turning it into an all-out rock 'n' roll song for the first time. Roberts would eventually record "Louie Louie" with the Wailers, shrieking the immortal ad-lib "Let's give it to 'em, RIGHT NOW!!", which was to become such an integral part of the eventual hit version.
Robin was in the Marine Reserves from 1962 to 1967. He graduated from University of Puget Sound in 1964, and attended Oregon State University, working on a Biochemistry degree, from fall of 1965 through the summer of 1967. He then moved to San Francisco and worked for Crown Cork & Seal Company.
Robin Roberts was killed in an automobile accident early in the morning of Dec. 22, 1967, in San Mateo County. He was the passenger in a car going the wrong way on the divided freeway.
RIP Rockin' Robin
"Let's give it to 'em, RIGHT NOW!!"
For entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.
If you like this, check out my blog: http://listenpeopleblog.blogspot.com/
9 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
10 years ago
10 years ago
10 years ago
10 years ago
10 years ago
10 years ago
10 years ago
11 years ago
11 years ago
11 years ago