Bobby Weinstein
Encyclopedia
Bobby Weinstein is an American
songwriter
, singer, and music industry executive, whose hit songs, mostly co-written with Teddy Randazzo
, include "Goin' Out Of My Head
", "It's Gonna Take A Miracle
", and "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)
".
He grew up in New York City
, and attended the School of Industrial Art
in Manhattan
. While there, he formed a vocal group, The Legends, with fellow students Marshall Samples, Ron Warwell, Richard "Chico" Brunson, Sampson Reese and Dominick Fleres. The group won a talent contest at the Apollo Theater
in 1955, and recorded for the small Melba and Hull labels before splitting up. Weinstein's song, "The Legend of Love," was one of those recorded by the group. In 1957, he began writing songs with Teddy Randazzo, who had sung in another vocal group, The Three Chuckles
. Their first major hit as co-writers was "Pretty Blue Eyes," recorded by Steve Lawrence
and produced by Don Costa
, which reached no. 9 on the pop charts at the start of 1960.
Working as part of Costa's production company, Weinstein and Randazzo had some of their biggest successes with comeback hits for Little Anthony and the Imperials in 1964 and 1965, "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)", "Goin' Out Of My Head", and "Hurt So Bad
", the last of which was also co-written with Bobby Hart. Weinstein and Randazzo also had a hit in 1965 with "It's Gonna Take A Miracle", by The Royalettes
. Although he mostly wrote with Randazzo, Weinstein also both worked and performed with Hart and his regular collaborator, Tommy Boyce. During the 1960s, he sang, with Boyce, Hart, Kenny Rankin
and others, in Randazzo's revue band, performing regular engagements in Las Vegas and elsewhere. His songs have been recorded by such musicians as The Box Tops
, Dionne Warwick
, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Ella Fitzgerald
, Linda Ronstadt
, and Frank Sinatra
. He occasionally used the writing pseudonym Robert Wilding.
Weinstein later became an executive with the performing rights organization, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI). He also served for 24 years on the board of the National Academy of Popular Music
(NAPM), responsible for the Songwriters Hall of Fame
, becoming its president between 1993 and 1999. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame, with Randazzo, in 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, singer, and music industry executive, whose hit songs, mostly co-written with Teddy Randazzo
Teddy Randazzo
Teddy Randazzo was a NYC born pop songwriter who composed 1960s hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", and "Hurt So Bad"...
, include "Goin' Out Of My Head
Goin' Out Of My Head
"Goin' Out of My Head" is a song written by Teddy Randazzo and Bobby Weinstein, initially recorded by Little Anthony & the Imperials in 1964. Randazzo, a childhood friend of the group, wrote the song especially for them, having also supplied the group with their previous Top 20 Hit "I'm On The...
", "It's Gonna Take A Miracle
It's Gonna Take a Miracle
"It's Gonna Take a Miracle" is a popular song written by Teddy Randazzo, Bob Weinstein, and Lou Stallman. It was first an R&B hit in 1965 for The Royalettes, who reached the Top 30 on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at #41 on the U.S. pop chart...
", and "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)
I'm On The Outside (Looking In)
"I'm On The Outside " is a 1964 hit song by Little Anthony and the Imperials, issued on DCP Records. It was a Billboard Top 20 Pop hit, peaking at #15. Written by Teddy Randazzo and Bobby Weinstein, this was the group's comeback single, ending a long period of inactivity by the group...
".
He grew up in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and attended the School of Industrial Art
High School of Art and Design
The High School of Art and Design is a Career and Technical Education high school located at 1075 Second Avenue, between 56th and 57th Streets in Manhattan, New York City, New York.It is operated by the New York City Department of Education...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. While there, he formed a vocal group, The Legends, with fellow students Marshall Samples, Ron Warwell, Richard "Chico" Brunson, Sampson Reese and Dominick Fleres. The group won a talent contest at the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
in 1955, and recorded for the small Melba and Hull labels before splitting up. Weinstein's song, "The Legend of Love," was one of those recorded by the group. In 1957, he began writing songs with Teddy Randazzo, who had sung in another vocal group, The Three Chuckles
The Three Chuckles
The Three Chuckles was an early American rock & roll group from Brooklyn.Although designated rock & roll by contemporary observers, the sound of The Three Chuckles is closer to vocal pop, in hindsight. They formed around 1950, naming themselves after a popular candy of the day, and played East...
. Their first major hit as co-writers was "Pretty Blue Eyes," recorded by Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence is an American singer and actor, perhaps best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as "Steve and Eydie"...
and produced by Don Costa
Don Costa
Don Costa was an American pop music arranger and record producer, best known for his work with Frank Sinatra.-Career:...
, which reached no. 9 on the pop charts at the start of 1960.
Working as part of Costa's production company, Weinstein and Randazzo had some of their biggest successes with comeback hits for Little Anthony and the Imperials in 1964 and 1965, "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)", "Goin' Out Of My Head", and "Hurt So Bad
Hurt So Bad
"Hurt So Bad" is a 1965 pop/R&B hit single by Little Anthony & The Imperials, taken from their album, Goin' out of My Head. It was the follow-up to that album's smash-hit title song, and like that song, also became a Billboard Top 10 hit, reaching #10, and was an R&B Top 10 hit as well, reaching...
", the last of which was also co-written with Bobby Hart. Weinstein and Randazzo also had a hit in 1965 with "It's Gonna Take A Miracle", by The Royalettes
The Royalettes
The Royalettes were a four-girl group from Baltimore, Maryland who exemplified the "sweet soul" style of the mid-60s....
. Although he mostly wrote with Randazzo, Weinstein also both worked and performed with Hart and his regular collaborator, Tommy Boyce. During the 1960s, he sang, with Boyce, Hart, Kenny Rankin
Kenny Rankin
Kenny Rankin was an American pop and jazz singer and songwriter, originally from the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, New York.-Biography:...
and others, in Randazzo's revue band, performing regular engagements in Las Vegas and elsewhere. His songs have been recorded by such musicians as The Box Tops
The Box Tops
The Box Tops were a Memphis rock group of the second half of the 1960s. They are best known for the hits "The Letter," "Neon Rainbow," "Soul Deep," "I Met Her in Church," and "Cry Like A Baby," and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period...
, Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
, and Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
. He occasionally used the writing pseudonym Robert Wilding.
Weinstein later became an executive with the performing rights organization, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI). He also served for 24 years on the board of the National Academy of Popular Music
National Academy of Popular Music
The National Academy of Popular Music is an American organization which administers the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and sponsors a series of workshops and showcases for the songwriting profession. It was formed in 1988 by Sammy Cahn and Bob Leone....
(NAPM), responsible for the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
, becoming its president between 1993 and 1999. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame, with Randazzo, in 2007.