Singer-songwriter Robert John, best known for his No. 1 hit “Sad Eyes,” has passed away at the age of 79.
John’s son, Michael Pedrick, confirmed his passing to Rolling Stone, revealing that the musician died on Monday, Feb. 24. While no official cause of death was given, John had been recovering from a stroke he suffered several years ago.
“He was a really great dad,” Pedrick told Rolling Stone.
Though John had a long history in the music industry, it was “Sad Eyes” that cemented his place in pop history. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 on May 19, 1979, and 20 weeks later, it reached No. 1, making it one of the most memorable ballads of the era.
At the time, even John himself was surprised by the song’s success.
“I look at the charts and see my name, but I still have trouble believing it’s really me,” he told Rolling Stone in 1979. “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.”
Born in Brooklyn on Jan. 3, 1946, John started young. At just 12 years old, he released his first record, “White Bucks and Saddle Shoes,” under the name Bobby Pedrick Jr. in 1958.
During the 1960s, he led a doo-wop group called Bobby & The Consoles before transitioning to a solo career. By 1968, he was releasing music under Robert John and landed a modest No. 49 hit with “If You Don’t Want My Love.”
His talent extended beyond singing—he worked as a producer and background vocalist, per Rolling Stone, and in 1972, his cover of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” soared to No. 3 on the Billboard charts.
Despite his chart successes, record companies weren’t convinced he could sustain a long-term career.
“Atlantic didn’t have enough faith to let me do an album,” John once admitted. “I decided if that’s what happens after a [hit] song, then I just wasn’t going to sing anymore.”
John pivoted to songwriting, even penning tracks for Motown. But in 1978, producer George Tobin convinced him to return to the studio. That collaboration led to the creation of “Sad Eyes”, the song that would define his career.
The track’s success earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, and in 1979, he released a self-titled album filled with pop-disco sounds. His final album, Back on the Street, came out in 1980.
John spent his later years out of the spotlight, enjoying time with his loved ones. He is survived by his four sons and grandsons, and for the past 10 years, he shared his life with his partner, Susan.
His music, however, remains timeless—a reminder of a golden era of ballads and heartfelt storytelling.
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