Robert John, 'Sad Eyes' Singer, Dies at 79

[Kemosabe]

Robert John, famous for his 1979 "Sad Eyes" hit, has died.

Robert John, Crooner Behind Number One Hit 'Sad Eyes,' Dead at 79

Robert John, the singer-songwriter who scored a Number One hit in 1979 with his song, 'Sad Eyes,' has died at the age of 79.

www.rollingstone.com

 

[CTListener]

Since the Rolling Stone article is paywalled, I have no idea if it mentioned his first, minor hit, "If You Don't Want My Love," which came out in 1968, long before "Sad Eyes" and "Lion Sleeps." I don't recall ever seeing him on any TV shows, so the photo with the obit is the first time I've been able to associate a face with the voice.

 

[Yabadabado1]

Obit

Since the Rolling Stone article is paywalled,

Obit from site not paywalled: Robert John Dies: ‘Sad Eyes’ Singer Was 79

 

[CTListener]

Thanks. Didn't realize he first charted at age 12. WRKO Boston pushed "If You Don't Want My Love" pretty strongly for a song that barely reached the top 50 nationally.

 

[Kemosabe]

Since the Rolling Stone article is paywalled, I have no idea if it mentioned his first, minor hit, "If You Don't Want My Love," which came out in 1968, long before "Sad Eyes" and "Lion Sleeps."

Fair use:

By 1968, however, John was back, linking up with the songwriter Michael Gately to produce a string of tunes, including “If You Don’t Want My Love,” which just cracked the Top 50, reaching Number 49.

John followed up “Sad Eyes” with a few more modest hits, including "Hey There Lonely Girl" and "Sherry," releasing his final album, Back on the Street, in 1980.

 

[FeverJohnny]

I can count on a centipede's legs the number of times I had to do a live PSA cold into "Sad Eyes" in 1979.

 

[Yabadabado1]

Whatever you do, don't ever call it "Sad Thighs" on-air. The howling and screaming and gnashing of teeth and all the carrying on was exhausting. And that was just from the PD.

 

[radiofan2023]

Whatever you do, don't ever call it "Sad Thighs" on-air. The howling and screaming and gnashing of teeth and all the carrying on was exhausting. And that was just from the PD.

And don’t play “Hot Legs” right after it!

 

[FreddyE1977]

Knew a guy who had a white-hot hatred for Sad Eyes because on his small market evening show the same 13-year old girl called him to request it every single night. 😅 RIP Robert John.