![]() René never renewed the copyright and no doubt lost a fortune in royalties when Michael Jackson sold a million copies of “Rockin’ Robin” in 1972.Ĭheck out these other articles about music. Instead, I gave it to my wife, Irma, and she put my mother-in-law’s name down as the writer-Jimmie Thomas.” René, though, would later admit, “I thought so little of the song that I decided not to put my name on it. The song proved a godsend to Bobby Day’s career (whose real last name was coincidentally Byrd). René was a university-educated, middle-aged musician whose songwriting credits included the classic “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano.” When he decided to turn his nocturnal annoyance into a pop novelty, he started with the term “mockingbird,” which morphed into “rockin’ mockin’ bird” and, finally, “rockin’ robin.” every morning thereafter.” (The culprit was actually a mockingbird, and not a robin.) But the next night the bird flew into a tree outside my window and woke me up…and about 2 a.m. The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five, sometimes stylized The Jackson 5ive), later known as The Jacksons, or simply Jacksons, are an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana. ![]() “I told her I couldn’t unless I threw a rock at him. Rockin’ Robin Lyrics by The Jackson 5 from the Motown: The Complete No. ![]() “She asked me to chase him away so that she could get some sleep,” Leon explained. Leon René wrote the song after his wife complained about a bird keeping her awake at night. The genesis of “Rockin’ Robin” was a rock ‘n’ roll story of legend. Leon had approached the musician with the idea of Day recording the tune for the teenage market. singer Thurston Harris recorded a Top 10 cover version.)ĭay’s next release in early 1958 would sell a million copies and become his signature song-and his only real success. Near the end of 1957, Bobby cut a minor hit called “Little Bitty Pretty One.” (Fellow L. Day recorded for Class Records, a small-time label owned by brothers Leon and Otis René. When Michael’s “Rockin’ Robin” was hot, the Jackson 5 issued another blast-from-the-past winner called “Little Bitty Pretty One.” As it turns out, both “Rockin’ Robin” and “Little Bitty Pretty One” had first been done in the late 1950s by the same little-remembered artist, Bobby Day.ĭay was a fixture on the Los Angeles R&B scene for years, having first achieved success as the leader of the Hollywood Flames (“Buzz-Buzz-Buzz”). Young Jackson’s fans heartily embraced the single release though, and bought enough copies to rocket it to No. But his next offering of a kid-oriented “oldie” brought grumbles from those in the industry who felt the bouncy ditty too “lightweight” for any Motown artist, even 13-year-old Michael. Lead singer Michael later recalled, “It was Berry Gordy’s idea that I should do a solo recording, and so I became one of the first people in a Motown group to really step out.”Īnd did he ever step out! “Got to Be There” established Jackson’s groundbreaking solo path. another one of my favourite young Michael songsīy the early 1970s, Motown’s teenage brother group, the Jackson 5, was regularly burning up the Billboard singles and album charts.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |