Rocky Roberts

Rocky Roberts (born Charles Roberts, Tanner, 23 August 1940– Rome, 13 January 2005) was an American-born Italian rhythm and blues singer.

Rocky Roberts
Background information
Birth nameCharles Roberts
Born23 August 1940
Tanner, Alabama, United States[1]
Died(2005-01-14)January 14, 2005, (age 64)[2]
Rome, Italy
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1960–2004

Born in Alabama, Roberts served in the United States Navy and was a Navy champion boxer. He first got interested in singing after listening to a country-oriented musician named Doug Fowlkes, whose band the Airdales (US-navy slang for Navy pilots) used to perform on the ship where Roberts was stationed. Fowlkes, impressed by Roberts' voice, eventually agreed to let him sit in with the band.[1]

Roberts won a singing competition while on shore leave in Juan-les-Pins, France, and chose to stay in Europe after retiring from the Navy in 1962.[2][1]

In 1965 Renzo Arbore and Gianni Boncompagni invited Roberts to Rome to record the theme of their Radio Show, Bandiera Gialla. The song, "T-Bird", was a hit in the Italian charts and Roberts settled in Rome.

In 1967, Roberts had a major Italian hit, "Stasera Mi Butto", which sold 3.7 million copies[1] and won the Festivalbar.[3] The song's success led to a 1967 motion picture of the same title, starring Roberts. He appeared subsequently in several other Italian films.

He was known for always wearing dark sunglasses.[2][1]

Roberts sang the Luis Bacalov-written theme song from the 1966 film, Django.[4] Quentin Tarantino reused the recording as the opening theme for his 2012 film Django Unchained.[5]

He died of lung cancer in Rome in 2005 at the age of 64.[2]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1967Non mi dire mai good-bye
1967Stasera mi buttoHimself
1967Una ragazza tutta d'oroHimself
1968I ragazzi di Bandiera GiallaHimself
1969Il ragazzo che sorrideRocky(final film role)
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References
  1. "Italian fans rave for 'Bama Singer", UPI in The Beaver County Times, May 6, 1970.
  2. "Rocky Roberts, 66; Ex-Boxer Made a Hit Record, Movie in Italy", Los Angeles Times, January 16, 2005.
  3. "From the Music Capitals of the World: Milan", Billboard, September 30, 1967.
  4. Núñez Marqués, Anselmo (2006). "Django y Ringo, sucedáneos con identidad". Western a la europea...: un plato que se sirve frío (in Spanish). Entrelineas Editores. p. 124. ISBN 9788498024326.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. Randy Lewis, "Quentin Tarantino discusses the music of 'Django Unchained'", Los Angeles Times, December 25, 2012.
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