The Robbs
Encyclopedia
The Robbs were an American
1960s pop/rock band from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
. They are best known for being the house band on Dick Clark's mid-1960s show Where The Action Is
. They are also known for placing the most singles on Billboard
magazine's "Bubbling Under" chart (five as The Robbs, plus a final single as Cherokee) without ever once crossing over into the Billboard Hot 100
.
Musically, the Robbs were noted for their use of harmony vocals, and instrumentation that was inspired by folk-rock, bubblegum music, and jangle pop
.
Spotted by Dick Clark, the band was signed to Mercury Records
in 1966, and moved to California
to appear as regular performers on Where The Action Is during late 1966 and early 1967, replacing Paul Revere and the Raiders.
The band recorded with some regional success between 1966 and 1970, at first for Mercury and subsequently for a variety of record label
s. Almost all of their singles
charted on radio stations in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. As well, their 1966 single "Race With The Wind" was a substantial hit
in Chicago
, and several other singles were breakout successes in smaller markets such as Honolulu, Hawaii
and Columbus, Ohio
. An early single was co-written and produced by the team of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri
, who had earlier written a hit single for the (then) strictly studio-concocted band The Grass Roots
. Sloan and Barri reportedly offered The Robbs a chance to step in and actually become The Grass Roots for both touring purposes and for future singles, but the group turned the offer down.
The Robbs continued to release singles to regional acclaim, but unlike The Grass Roots (who went on to have over a dozen Hot 100 hits), The Robbs were never able to garner a true nation-wide hit, accounting for their inability to break into the Hot 100.
The Robbs' lone album
, from 1967, was compiled from the A-side and B-side
s of their 1966 and 1967 singles, along with two new tracks. This self-titled LP made the Billboard 200
chart for one week in January 1968, peaking at #200, and the band was shortly thereafter dropped by Mercury Records.
Upon signing to Atlantic
in 1968, The Robbs pursued a more country rock
orientation. After their two Atlantic singles missed even the "bubbling under" charts, Atlantic let the band go, and they were picked up by ABC/Dunhill in 1969. The Robbs continued to release singles for this label, with the usual regional success and some "bubbling under" appearances, but no national breakthrough.
of The Byrds
. However, the album did not chart, nor did the album's lead single "Rosianna".
The follow-up single ("Girl, I've Got News For You") charted in the top 40 on radio stations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington. However, as had happened with numerous singles credited to The Robbs, nationally the single only appeared on Billboard's "Bubbling Under" chart.
in a rural California barn to record their material, and they soon started recording other acts there as well. Artists such as Del Shannon
and Zane Ashton recorded there. According to Dee Robb, although his band would never record or perform again after 1971 (as either The Robbs or Cherokee), they never officially broke up. Instead, they simply started spending so much time operating their studio that the band was put on hold -- as it turned out, permanently.
In 1975, the three Robb Brothers (who had gone back to using their "Robbs" names) opened Cherokee Studios
in Los Angeles. This studio became one of America's premier recording facilities whose clients included The Go-Go's
(including Jane Wiedlin
, who also born in Oconomowoc), Jane's Addiction
, Steely Dan
, Aerosmith
, Devo
, Public Enemy, Lenny Kravitz
, John Cougar, Al Green
, Warren Zevon
, Sneaker
and many others. Through their association with Cherokee Studios, the Robb brothers have participated in the creation of more than 250 gold or platinum records.
Under his real name, Robbs' drummer Craig Krampf also found success in the music industry, becoming a respected session drummer
, songwriter
and record producer
. His drumming can be heard on (among many other songs) the Kim Carnes
#1 hit "Bette Davis Eyes
"; as a writer, his biggest hit was Steve Perry
's 1984 hit "Oh Sherrie
" (a co-write with three others); and as a producer, his most notable credit is his co-production of the first album by Melissa Etheridge
.
Dee Robb, The Robbs' vocalist and chief songwriter (and oldest sibling) died in 2008.
As Robby & The Robins:
As The Robbs:
As Cherokee:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
1960s pop/rock band from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Oconomowoc is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The name was derived from Coo-no-mo-wauk, the Potawatomi term for "waterfall." The population was 12,382 at the 2000 census. The city is partially adjacent to the Town of Oconomowoc and near the Village of Oconomowoc...
. They are best known for being the house band on Dick Clark's mid-1960s show Where The Action Is
Where the Action Is
Where the Action Is or ' was a music-based television variety show in the United States from 1965–67. It was carried by the ABC network and aired each weekday afternoon...
. They are also known for placing the most singles on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine's "Bubbling Under" chart (five as The Robbs, plus a final single as Cherokee) without ever once crossing over into the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Formation and early years (1960s)
The Robbs were a band of brothers starting with David Donaldson (Dee Robb - lead vocals and guitar), Robert Donaldson (Bruce Robb - guitar and vocals), and George Donaldson (Joe Robb - keyboards), along with the unrelated family friend Craig Krampf (Craig Robb - drums). The band was founded in the early 1960s without Krampf, and recorded as Dee Robb, Robby & the Robins, and Dee Robb & the Robins before settling on The Robbs and hiring Krampf in 1965.Musically, the Robbs were noted for their use of harmony vocals, and instrumentation that was inspired by folk-rock, bubblegum music, and jangle pop
Jangle pop
Jangle pop is a genre of alternative rock from the mid-1980s that "marked a return to the chiming or jangly guitars and pop melodies of the '60s" bands such as The Byrds, with their electric twelve-string guitars and power pop song structures. Mid-1980s jangle pop was a non-mainstream "pop-based...
.
Spotted by Dick Clark, the band was signed to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
in 1966, and moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to appear as regular performers on Where The Action Is during late 1966 and early 1967, replacing Paul Revere and the Raiders.
The band recorded with some regional success between 1966 and 1970, at first for Mercury and subsequently for a variety of record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s. Almost all of their singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
charted on radio stations in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. As well, their 1966 single "Race With The Wind" was a substantial hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and several other singles were breakout successes in smaller markets such as Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. An early single was co-written and produced by the team of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri
Steve Barri
Steve Barri is an American songwriter and record producer.Early in his career Barri was a staff writer with Dunhill Records. He frequently collaborated with P.F. Sloan, and the partners were responsible for the success of The Grass Roots and contributed largely to the band's first album...
, who had earlier written a hit single for the (then) strictly studio-concocted band The Grass Roots
The Grass Roots
The Grass Roots is an American rock band that charted between 1966 and 1975 as the brainchild of songwriting duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri.In their career, The Grass Roots achieved two gold albums, one gold single and charted singles a total of 21 times. Among their charting singles, they...
. Sloan and Barri reportedly offered The Robbs a chance to step in and actually become The Grass Roots for both touring purposes and for future singles, but the group turned the offer down.
The Robbs continued to release singles to regional acclaim, but unlike The Grass Roots (who went on to have over a dozen Hot 100 hits), The Robbs were never able to garner a true nation-wide hit, accounting for their inability to break into the Hot 100.
The Robbs' lone album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, from 1967, was compiled from the A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
s of their 1966 and 1967 singles, along with two new tracks. This self-titled LP made the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart for one week in January 1968, peaking at #200, and the band was shortly thereafter dropped by Mercury Records.
Upon signing to Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1968, The Robbs pursued a more country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
orientation. After their two Atlantic singles missed even the "bubbling under" charts, Atlantic let the band go, and they were picked up by ABC/Dunhill in 1969. The Robbs continued to release singles for this label, with the usual regional success and some "bubbling under" appearances, but no national breakthrough.
Rebirth as Cherokee
In 1971, the group changed their name to Cherokee, and re-emphazised their country rock influenced sound. The four band members also reverted to their birth names for their work with this band. They released one self-titled album as Cherokee, as well as the 1971 non-LP single "Girl, I've Got News For You". Both the album and the single featured the participation of Chris HillmanChris Hillman
Christopher Hillman was one of the original members of The Byrds which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke....
of The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
. However, the album did not chart, nor did the album's lead single "Rosianna".
The follow-up single ("Girl, I've Got News For You") charted in the top 40 on radio stations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington. However, as had happened with numerous singles credited to The Robbs, nationally the single only appeared on Billboard's "Bubbling Under" chart.
Dissolution, and formation of Cherokee Studios
Cherokee had set up their own recording studioRecording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in a rural California barn to record their material, and they soon started recording other acts there as well. Artists such as Del Shannon
Del Shannon
Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :...
and Zane Ashton recorded there. According to Dee Robb, although his band would never record or perform again after 1971 (as either The Robbs or Cherokee), they never officially broke up. Instead, they simply started spending so much time operating their studio that the band was put on hold -- as it turned out, permanently.
In 1975, the three Robb Brothers (who had gone back to using their "Robbs" names) opened Cherokee Studios
Cherokee Studios
Cherokee Studios was a recording facility in Hollywood, founded in 1972 and closed in August 2007 to make way for a new building, after 35 years of operation under the Cherokee name as a well-renowned studio...
in Los Angeles. This studio became one of America's premier recording facilities whose clients included The Go-Go's
The Go-Go's
The Go-Go’s are an all-female American rock band formed in 1978. They made history as the first all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts....
(including Jane Wiedlin
Jane Wiedlin
Jane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known as the rhythm guitarist of the all-female New Wave band The Go-Go's.-Early life:...
, who also born in Oconomowoc), Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
, Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
, Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
, Public Enemy, Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
, John Cougar, Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon
Warren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
, Sneaker
Sneaker
A sneaker may refer to:* Sneaker , in American English, is a casual athletic shoe.* Sneaker Phone, a phone that looks like a sneaker* Sneaker wave, type of ocean wave* Sneaker , a computer intruder or hacker...
and many others. Through their association with Cherokee Studios, the Robb brothers have participated in the creation of more than 250 gold or platinum records.
Under his real name, Robbs' drummer Craig Krampf also found success in the music industry, becoming a respected session drummer
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, 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...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. His drumming can be heard on (among many other songs) the Kim Carnes
Kim Carnes
Kim Carnes is an American singer-songwriter. She is a two-time Grammy Award winner noted for her distinctive raspy vocal style. Some people have called her "The Female Rod Stewart" due to her raspy voice....
#1 hit "Bette Davis Eyes
Bette Davis Eyes
"Bette Davis Eyes" is a song written in 1974 by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon and made popular by American singer-songwriter Kim Carnes.-History:...
"; as a writer, his biggest hit was Steve Perry
Steve Perry (musician)
Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey from 1977–1987 and 1995–1998. Perry had a successful solo career throughout the late 1980s and early '90s.Perry's voice has garnered acclaim from musical peers and music...
's 1984 hit "Oh Sherrie
Oh Sherrie
"Oh Sherrie" is a song written by American singer Steve Perry, Randy Goodrum, Craig Krampf, and Bill Cuomo. It was recorded andreleased on Perry's Street Talk album in 1984, his first solo album which he released while still a member of Journey...
" (a co-write with three others); and as a producer, his most notable credit is his co-production of the first album by Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals...
.
Dee Robb, The Robbs' vocalist and chief songwriter (and oldest sibling) died in 2008.
Singles
Includes information on local markets in which The Robbs made the Top 40. In order to qualify, at least one radio station in the market named had to place the relevant 45 on their published weekly chart, at position #40 or higher. Local charts compiled by ARSA:As Robby & The Robins:
| Release date | Title | Charts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Chart Peak (Billboard) |
Charted Top 40 in the following markets: | ||
| 1964 | "Surfer's Life" | - | - |
As The Robbs:
| Release date | Title | Charts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Chart Peak (Billboard) |
Charted Top 40 in the following markets: | ||
| 1966 | Race With The Wind | #103 | Milwaukee, WI; Chicago, IL; Duluth, MN. |
| Next Time You See Me | - | - | |
| Bittersweet | - | Milwaukee, WI; Stevens Point, WI; Louisville, KY; San Antonio, TX; Honolulu, HI; Lansing, MI; Hartford, CT. | |
| 1967 | Rapid Transit | #123 | Milwaukee, WI; Louisville, KY. |
| → Cynthia Loves (B-side to "Rapid Transit") | - | Milwaukee, WI; Stevens Point, WI. | |
| Girls, Girls | - | Stevens Point, WI; Columbus, OH. | |
| 1968 | I Don't Want To Discuss It | - | Columbus, OH |
| Changin' Winds | - | Milwaukee, WI; Columbus, OH. | |
| 1969 | Movin' | #131 | Stevens Point, WI; Oshkosh, WI; Columbus, OH. |
| 1970 | Last Of The Wine | #114 | Milwaukee, WI; St. Louis, MO; Youngstown, OH; Hamilton, ON (Canada). |
| I'll Never Get Enough | #106 | - | |
As Cherokee:
| Release date | Title | Charts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Chart Peak (Billboard) |
Charted Top 40 in the following markets: | ||
| 1971 | Rosianna | - | - |
| Girl, I've Got News For You | #116 | Kimberly, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Spokane, WA. Kingston, ON (Canada) | |
External links
- http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/artists_item.php?rtid=6717
- http://www.richieunterberger.com/robbs.html
- http://mixonline.com/design/profiles/audio_cherokee_studios