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

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]

Roberts had a stint in France performing at ORTF television show Les raisins verts, and achieved some success with an early version of "T-Bird" and "Monkiss".

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
1967 Non mi dire mai good-bye
1967 Stasera mi butto Himself
1967 Una ragazza tutta d'oro Himself
1968 I ragazzi di Bandiera Gialla Himself
1969 Il ragazzo che sorride Rocky (final film role)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Italian fans rave for 'Bama Singer", UPI in The Beaver County Times, May 6, 1970.
  2. ^ a b c d "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.
  5. ^ Randy Lewis, "Quentin Tarantino discusses the music of 'Django Unchained'", Los Angeles Times, December 25, 2012.

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