Dennis Robbins
Encyclopedia
Dennis Robbins is an American
musician who first made himself known as a guitarist in the band The Rockets. After his departure from The Rockets, he began a career in country music, recording two major-label albums and several singles of his own, in addition to writing hit singles for Shenandoah
and Garth Brooks
.
. After a brief stint in the United States Marine Corps
, he moved to Detroit, Michigan
, where he found work in several bands before joining a group known as The Rockets.
After retiring from The Rockets, Robbins moved to Nashville, Tennessee
, where he was signed to MCA
in 1986, recording his debut album First of Me that year. Later the same year, he founded the supergroup Billy Hill
with songwriters Bob DiPiero
and John Scott Sherrill
. This group recorded one album on Reprise Records
and charted three singles before disbanding in 1990. The three members of Billy Hill also co-wrote "The Church on Cumberland Road
", a Number One single for Shenandoah
in early 1989, as well as Highway 101
's "(Do You Love Me) Just Say Yes
."
topped the country music charts with "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House
" (which Robbins himself had charted with three years previous).
Robbins' second album overall, Man with a Plan, was issued in 1992. Included on it was the single "Home Sweet Home", his only solo Top 40 hit on the country charts. Also found on this album was his own rendition of "I Am Just a Rebel", as well as the track "Paris, Tennessee", which was later cut by both Kenny Chesney
and Tracy Lawrence
. A second album for Giant, Born Ready, was issued in 1994, producing one more chart single. He has not recorded any albums since.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician who first made himself known as a guitarist in the band The Rockets. After his departure from The Rockets, he began a career in country music, recording two major-label albums and several singles of his own, in addition to writing hit singles for Shenandoah
Shenandoah (band)
Shenandoah is an American country music group founded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1984 by Marty Raybon , Ralph Ezell , Stan Thorn , Jim Seales , and Mike McGuire...
and Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
.
Biography
Dennis Robbins was born in Hazelwood, North Carolina. He learned to play guitar while in his teens, taking his influences from both rock & roll and bluegrassBluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
. After a brief stint in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, he moved to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, where he found work in several bands before joining a group known as The Rockets.
After retiring from The Rockets, Robbins moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, where he was signed to MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
in 1986, recording his debut album First of Me that year. Later the same year, he founded the supergroup Billy Hill
Billy Hill (supergroup)
Billy Hill was an American country music group founded by Dennis Robbins , Bob DiPiero , and John Scott Sherrill , along with Reno Kling and Martin Parker . Before the group's foundation, Robbins had been a member of The Rockets...
with songwriters Bob DiPiero
Bob DiPiero
Bob DiPiero is an American country music songwriter. He has written 15. U.S. Number 1 hits and countless top 20 hits for the likes of Tim McGraw, The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Shenandoah, Neal McCoy, Highway 101, Restless Heart, Ricochet, John Anderson, Montgomery...
and John Scott Sherrill
John Scott Sherrill
John Scott Sherrill is an American songwriter whose work is primarily in the field of country music. He has written songs for such artists as John Anderson, Brooks & Dunn, Jimmy Buffett , Johnny Lee, George Strait, Steve Wariner, Patty Loveless, Josh Turner, Waylon Jennings, Alison Krauss, Peter...
. This group recorded one album on Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
and charted three singles before disbanding in 1990. The three members of Billy Hill also co-wrote "The Church on Cumberland Road
The Church on Cumberland Road
"The Church on Cumberland Road" is the title of a song recorded by country music group Shenandoah. It was released in January 1989 as the third single to their 1988 album The Road Not Taken. It was their first number-one hit in both the United States and Canada. In 2001, on a live CMT special,...
", a Number One single for Shenandoah
Shenandoah (band)
Shenandoah is an American country music group founded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1984 by Marty Raybon , Ralph Ezell , Stan Thorn , Jim Seales , and Mike McGuire...
in early 1989, as well as Highway 101
Highway 101
Highway 101 is an American country music band founded by Paulette Carlson , Jack Daniels , Curtis Stone and Scott "Cactus" Moser . With Carlson as lead vocalist, the band recorded three albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashville and charted ten consecutive Top Ten hits on the Hot Country Songs...
's "(Do You Love Me) Just Say Yes
(Do You Love Me) Just Say Yes
" Just Say Yes" is the title of a song written by Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill, and Dennis Robbins and recorded by Highway 101. " Just Say Yes" was Highway 101's third number one on the country chart. The song spent one week at that position and twenty weeks on the chart...
."
Solo career
Giant Records, a subsidiary label of Warner, opened a country music branch in 1990 as well, and Robbins was the first act signed to this newly-formed division. Also that year, he contributed to another Number One single, when Garth BrooksGarth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
topped the country music charts with "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House
Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House
"Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" is the title of a country music song co-written by Dennis Robbins, Bobby Boyd, and Warren Dale Haynes. Robbins himself originally recorded the song and charted at #71 with it on the Billboard country charts in 1987...
" (which Robbins himself had charted with three years previous).
Robbins' second album overall, Man with a Plan, was issued in 1992. Included on it was the single "Home Sweet Home", his only solo Top 40 hit on the country charts. Also found on this album was his own rendition of "I Am Just a Rebel", as well as the track "Paris, Tennessee", which was later cut by both Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
and Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence is an American country music artist. He started at a country music restaurant called "Live At Libby's" where owner Libby Knight would help local talent find their way into country music...
. A second album for Giant, Born Ready, was issued in 1994, producing one more chart single. He has not recorded any albums since.
Albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The First of Me |
|
| Man with a Plan |
|
| Born Ready |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| 1983 | "If I Could Get Over You" | — | — | Single only |
| 1986 | "Hard Lovin' Man" | — | — | |
| "The First of Me" | — | — | The First of Me | |
| "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" | 63 | — | Single only | |
| 1987 | "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" is the title of a country music song co-written by Dennis Robbins, Bobby Boyd, and Warren Dale Haynes. Robbins himself originally recorded the song and charted at #71 with it on the Billboard country charts in 1987... " |
71 | — | |
| 1989 | "I Can't Help Myself" | — | — | |
| 1990 | "Nickel to My Name" | — | — | |
| "No Chance to Dance" | — | — | ||
| "Blue Angel" | — | — | ||
| 1992 | "Home Sweet Home" | 34 | 73 | Man with a Plan |
| "My Side of Town" | 59 | — | ||
| 1993 | "Mona Lisa on Cruise Control" | 68 | — | Born Ready |
| 1994 | "Walking on the Edge" | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Music videos
| Year | Video |
|---|---|
| 1992 | "Home Sweet Home" |
| "My Side of Town" | |
| 1993 | "Looking for a Thing Called Love" |
| "Mona Lisa on Cruise Control" |