Rocky Roberts

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Rocky Roberts
R&B
  • Southern soul
    • Occupation(s)Singer
    Years active1960–2004
    Labels

    Rocky Roberts (born Charles Roberts; August 23, 1940 – January 13, 2005) was an American-born

    Italian
    rhythm and blues singer.

    Born in

    Navy pilots) used to perform on the ship where Roberts was stationed. Fowlkes, impressed by Roberts' voice, eventually agreed to let him sit in with the band.[1]

    Roberts won a singing competition while on shore leave in Juan-les-Pins, France, and chose to stay in Europe after retiring from the Navy in 1962.[2][1]

    Roberts had a stint in France performing at ORTF television show Les raisins verts, and achieved some success with an early version of "T-Bird" and "Monkiss".

    In 1965 Renzo Arbore and Gianni Boncompagni invited Roberts to Rome to record the theme of their Radio Show, Bandiera Gialla. The song, "T-Bird", was a hit in the Italian charts and Roberts settled in Rome.

    In 1967, Roberts had a major Italian hit, "Stasera Mi Butto", which sold 3.7 million copies[1] and won the Festivalbar.[3] The song's success led to a 1967 motion picture of the same title, starring Roberts. He appeared subsequently in several other Italian films.

    He was known for always wearing dark sunglasses.[2][1]

    Roberts sang the Luis Bacalov-written theme song from the 1966 film, Django.[4] Quentin Tarantino reused the recording as the opening theme for his 2012 film Django Unchained.[5]

    He died of lung cancer in Rome in 2005 at the age of 64.[2]

    Filmography

    Year Title Role Notes
    1967 Non mi dire mai good-bye
    1967 Stasera mi butto Himself
    1967 Una ragazza tutta d'oro Himself
    1968 I ragazzi di Bandiera Gialla Himself
    1969 Il ragazzo che sorride Rocky (final film role)

    References

    1. ^
      UPI in The Beaver County Times
      , May 6, 1970.
    2. ^ a b c d "Rocky Roberts, 66; Ex-Boxer Made a Hit Record, Movie in Italy", Los Angeles Times, January 16, 2005.
    3. ^ "From the Music Capitals of the World: Milan", Billboard, September 30, 1967.
    4. ISBN 9788498024326
      .
    5. ^ Randy Lewis, "Quentin Tarantino discusses the music of 'Django Unchained'", Los Angeles Times, December 25, 2012.

    External links

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rocky_Roberts&oldid=1185855944"