Singer and composer Robert John, 79, died on Feb. 24. As a teen, he sang with Bobby & The Consoles (don’t you love that name?) and had such minor hits as “My Jelly Bean” and "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" (again, love). He struggled for the next few years, alternately writing and singing various non-chart-toppers and working construction in New Jersey. Record producer George Tobin rediscovered him in 1979, and produced John’s only real hit, “Sad Eyes” (which John himself wrote). He pretty much retired after that, with an occasional “Best of” album or oldies show. Music writer Big Joe Henry said in 2022, “I’ve so enjoyed my friendship with Robert . . . He would frequently accompany me to many of my oldies concerts, knowing many of the original members of the groups and hearing them exchange stories was like watching music history unfold in front of your eyes. He would always ride down to the talent show finals with me and he would bust my chops about a joke I had said that day on my show, and he always wanted to know how the talent was this year.”
Robert John, singing “Sad Eyes” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTxKjzDJMqQ
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