Robbie Nevil
Encyclopedia
Robert S. "Robbie" Nevil (born October 2, 1958, Los Angeles
, California
) is an American
pop
singer, songwriter
, producer
and guitarist
. He is best known for his 1986 Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit
, "C'est La Vie
".
bands
. He began performing his original music and signed a publishing deal in 1983, writing songs for the Pointer Sisters
, El DeBarge
, and Earth, Wind & Fire
.
In 1986, he obtained his first recording contract
, signing with Manhattan Records
, for whom he recorded his debut album
with the producers Alex Sadkin
and Phil Thornalley
. His debut single "C'est La Vie
" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
, propelling the album into the Top 40 on both the US
pop
and Billboard
R&B
chart
. His second single "Dominoes" hit #14 on the Hot 100 and #22 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, while the third single "Wot's It To Ya" peaked at #10 on the Hot 100 and Dance Club/Play charts, and #69 on the R&B chart.
In 1988, Nevil released his second album, A Place Like This
(#118
), and hit the Top 40 a fourth time, with the single "Back On Holiday" (#34). A second single, "Somebody Like You", failed to build on that success, peaking at #63.
In 1991, Nevil's third album, Day 1
, was released to fewer sales, with lead single "For Your Mind" stalling at #86. The second single release, "Just Like You", became his biggest hit since 1987, and his fifth and final Top 40 single, peaking at #25 on the Hot 100.
Nevil turned to writing and producing for acts such as Babyface, Jessica Simpson
and Destiny's Child
. In 2006, he collaborated with Matthew Gerrard
on the Smash Mouth
album Summer Girl
. Gerrard had been writing for Disney for some time and their work led to a partnership working on Disney projects including The Cheetah Girls
, High School Musical
, and Hannah Montana
franchises.
Robbie Nevil is brother to the actor Alex Nevil
.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He is best known for his 1986 Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, "C'est La Vie
C'est La Vie (Robbie Nevil song)
"C'est La Vie" is a popular song by American singer Robbie Nevil from his self-titled debut album in 1986. The song was first recorded by gospel singer Beau Williams for his 1984 album Bodacious!....
".
Life and career
Nevil began playing guitar at age eleven and played in a series of coverCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
bands
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
. He began performing his original music and signed a publishing deal in 1983, writing songs for the Pointer Sisters
Pointer Sisters
The Pointer Sisters are an American pop/R&B recording act from Oakland, California that achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s. Spanning over three decades, their repertoire has included such diverse genres as pop, disco, jazz, bebop, blues, soul, funk, dance, country and rock.The...
, El DeBarge
El DeBarge
Eldra Patrick "El" DeBarge is an American R&B/pop falsetto singer and was the focal point and lead singer of the family group DeBarge throughout the early to mid-1980s....
, and Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
.
In 1986, he obtained his first recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
, signing with Manhattan Records
Manhattan Records
Manhattan Records is a United States record label, owned by EMI and operates as a subsidiary of The Blue Note Label Group.-Company history:Manhattan Records was formed in 1984 by Bruce Lundvall, and was later renamed EMI Manhattan Records after absorbing EMI America Records imprint...
, for whom he recorded his debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
with the producers Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin is best remembered as a record producer in the early 1980s, but actually got his start in the music industry as a saxophonist for the Las Olas Brass in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
and Phil Thornalley
Phil Thornalley
Phil Thornalley is a songwriter-producer who has worked in the music industry since 1978. He is perhaps best known for co-writing the song "Torn" which Natalie Imbruglia later covered to great success for her 1997 debut album, Left of the Middle...
. His debut single "C'est La Vie
C'est La Vie (Robbie Nevil song)
"C'est La Vie" is a popular song by American singer Robbie Nevil from his self-titled debut album in 1986. The song was first recorded by gospel singer Beau Williams for his 1984 album Bodacious!....
" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, propelling the album into the Top 40 on both the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. His second single "Dominoes" hit #14 on the Hot 100 and #22 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, while the third single "Wot's It To Ya" peaked at #10 on the Hot 100 and Dance Club/Play charts, and #69 on the R&B chart.
In 1988, Nevil released his second album, A Place Like This
A Place Like This
A Place Like This is Robbie Nevil's second album, released in 1988.-Track listing:# "Somebody Like You" 4:16 # "Back on Holiday" 3:59...
(#118
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
), and hit the Top 40 a fourth time, with the single "Back On Holiday" (#34). A second single, "Somebody Like You", failed to build on that success, peaking at #63.
In 1991, Nevil's third album, Day 1
Day 1
Day 1 is Robbie Nevil's third album, released in 1991.-Track listing:#"Introduction" – 0:39#"Just Like You" - 4:05#"For Your Mind" - 3:47#"Do You Miss Me" - 4:21#"Temptation" Day 1 is Robbie Nevil's third album, released in 1991.-Track listing:#"Introduction" – 0:39#"Just Like You" (Robbie...
, was released to fewer sales, with lead single "For Your Mind" stalling at #86. The second single release, "Just Like You", became his biggest hit since 1987, and his fifth and final Top 40 single, peaking at #25 on the Hot 100.
Nevil turned to writing and producing for acts such as Babyface, Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
and Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
. In 2006, he collaborated with Matthew Gerrard
Matthew Gerrard
Matthew Gerrard is a Canadian record producer and songwriter. He has written hit singles by artists such as Nick Carter , Kelly Clarkson , Hilary Duff , Eden's Crush and Jesse McCartney...
on the Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994, and was originally composed of Steve Harwell, Greg Camp, Paul De Lisle and Kevin Coleman as lead vocals, guitar, bass and drums respectively...
album Summer Girl
Summer Girl
Summer Girl is the fifth album by the San Jose, California rock band Smash Mouth released on September 19, 2006. The album was released with the promo single "Story Of My Life". The "Story Of My Life" music video was filmed in an episode in Season 6 of the VH1 reality show The Surreal Life. "So...
. Gerrard had been writing for Disney for some time and their work led to a partnership working on Disney projects including The Cheetah Girls
The Cheetah Girls (film series)
The Cheetah Girls is a musical comedy film series produced by Debra Martin Chase. Actresses like Raven-Symoné, Adrienne Bailon, Sabrina Bryan, Kiely Williams and Lynn Whitfield are featured in the films...
, High School Musical
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
, and Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
franchises.
Robbie Nevil is brother to the actor Alex Nevil
Alex Nevil
Alex Nevil is an American actor and younger brother of 1980s pop musician Robbie Nevil.Alex has maintained a long career as a television guest star, most notably portraying Rebecca Howe's lecherous young boss Martin Teal on Cheers in 1988. He has been married to Allyson Nevil since 2001.-External...
.
Albums
- Robbie NevilRobbie Nevil (album)Robbie Nevil is Robbie Nevil's first album, released in 1986. It peaked at #37 on the Billboard 200, remaining on the chart for 46 weeks. The album produced three top-15 pop singles: "C'est La Vie" , Dominoes and "Wot's It To Ya" ....
(1986) #37 US Pop; #32 US R&B; UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#93 - A Place Like ThisA Place Like ThisA Place Like This is Robbie Nevil's second album, released in 1988.-Track listing:# "Somebody Like You" 4:16 # "Back on Holiday" 3:59...
(1988) #118 US - Day 1Day 1Day 1 is Robbie Nevil's third album, released in 1991.-Track listing:#"Introduction" – 0:39#"Just Like You" - 4:05#"For Your Mind" - 3:47#"Do You Miss Me" - 4:21#"Temptation" Day 1 is Robbie Nevil's third album, released in 1991.-Track listing:#"Introduction" – 0:39#"Just Like You" (Robbie...
(1991)
Singles
- "C'est La VieC'est La Vie (Robbie Nevil song)"C'est La Vie" is a popular song by American singer Robbie Nevil from his self-titled debut album in 1986. The song was first recorded by gospel singer Beau Williams for his 1984 album Bodacious!....
" (1986) #2 US, #3 UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, #4 Aus - "Dominoes" (1987) #14 US, # 26, #38 Aus
- "Wot's It To Ya" (1987) #10 US, #43 UK
- "Back On Holiday" (1988) #34 US
- "Somebody Like You" (1989) #63 US
- "For Your Mind" (1991) #86 US
- "Just Like You" (1991) #25 US, #3 Aus
- "I'll Be There For You" (1996) (duet with Seiko MatsudaSeiko Matsudais a Japanese pop singer-songwriter. Due to her popularity in the 1980s and her long career, she has been dubbed the "Eternal idol" by the Japanese media.- Biography :...
) #35 JP
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart
External links
- [ Allmusic]
- Official website