Robert John, the voice behind the 70s hit “Sad Eyes”, Kill at 79

Robert John, the singer writer behind chart-topping hit “Sad Eyes”, has died. He was 79.

John’s son Michael Pedrick confirmed the news of his death to Police stone. John died on Monday 24 February and there was no immediate cause of death. But musicians still recovered from a stroke that he experienced several years ago.

“He was a really good dad,” Pedrick told the outlet.

John, who is commonly known for “sad eyes”, went into Message board Hot 100 on May 19, 1979 and topped the lists 20 weeks later with the ballad.

“I look at the lists and see my name, but I still have trouble thinking it’s really me,” John told Police stone at that time. “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. ”

John was born in Brooklyn on January 3, 1986 and continued to release his first record, “White Bucks and Saddle Shoes” when he was 12 in 1958 under the name Bobby Pedrick Jr.

In the 1960s, John led a Doo-Wop group called Bobby & The Consoles in New York. In 1968 he released music under Robert John and met No. 49 with “If you don’t want my love.”

About that time he also worked as a producer and background vocalist, Per Rolling stone. Since, in 1972, his reproduction of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” rose to No. 3 on Hot 100.

Despite his success on individual editions, however, it was enough for record companies.

“(Atlantic) didn’t have enough faith to let me make an album,” John told the outlet. “I decided if that’s what happens after a (hit) song, I just wouldn’t sing anymore.”

John continued to write for Motown before producer George Tobin was enough for him to reconnect in 1978. During his time together, “Sad Eyes” was born. The single continued to serve him a Grammy nomination for best pop vocal performance.

In 1979, John recorded a self-titled album which largely consisted of Pop-Disco tracks. The following year he recorded Back on the streetHis last album.

Per Police stoneJohn is survived by his four sons and grandchildren and spent the last ten years with his partner Susan.