Dennis Robbins
Dennis Anthony Robbins (born in Hazelwood, North Carolina)[2] is an American musician who first made himself known as a guitarist in the band 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.
Dennis Robbins | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Dennis Anthony Robbins[1] |
| Origin | Hazelwood, North Carolina, United States |
| Genres | Country Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals Electric guitar Slide guitar |
| Years active | 1983–1994 |
| Labels | NSD MCA Reprise Giant |
| Associated acts | Rockets Billy Hill Garth Brooks Shenandoah |
Biography
Robbins was born in Hazelwood, North Carolina. He learned to play guitar while in his teens, taking his influences from both rock & roll and bluegrass. 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 Rockets.
After retiring from Rockets, Robbins moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was signed to MCA in 1986, recording his debut album First of Me that year.[2] 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.[2] The three members of Billy Hill also co-wrote "The Church on Cumberland Road", a Number One single for Shenandoah in early 1989, and Highway 101's "(Do You Love Me) Just Say Yes."[1]
Solo career
Giant Records, a subsidiary label of Warner, opened a country music branch in 1990, and Robbins was the first act signed to this newly formed division.[2] Also that year, he contributed to another Number One single, when Garth Brooks topped the country music charts with "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" (which Robbins himself had charted with three years previous).[2][3]
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.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The First of Me |
|
| Man with a Plan |
|
| Born Ready |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | CAN Country | |||
| 1983 | "If I Could Get Over You" | — | — | N/A |
| 1986 | "Hard Lovin' Man" | — | — | |
| "The First of Me" | — | — | The First of Me | |
| "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" | 63 | — | N/A | |
| 1987 | "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" | 71 | — | |
| 1992 | "Home Sweet Home" | 34 | 73 | Man with a Plan |
| "My Side of Town" | 59 | — | ||
| 1993 | "Looking for a Thing Called Love"[4] | — | — | Born Ready |
| 1994 | "Mona Lisa on Cruise Control" | 68 | — | |
| "Travelin' Music"[5] | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Home Sweet Home" | Roger Pistole |
| "My Side of Town" | ||
| 1993 | "Looking for a Thing Called Love" | |
| "Mona Lisa on Cruise Control" | Marc Ball |
References
- International who's who in popular music. p. 433.
- Brennan, Sandra; Brian Mansfield. "Dennis Robbins biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
- Joyce, Mike (1992-07-03). "Dennis Robbins, Sliding By". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
- "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. July 31, 1993. p. 75.
- "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 21, 1994. p. 51.
External links
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