Bobby Hebb facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bobby Hebb
Hebb in 1966
Background information
Birth name	Robert Alvin Von Hebb
Born	(1938-07-26)July 26, 1938 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	August 3, 2010(2010-08-03) (aged 72) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	R&B, soul
Occupation(s)	Singer, musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, piano, guitar
Years active	1955‒2010
Labels	Cadet, Crystal Ball, Epic, Laurie, Mercury, Philips, Scepter, Tuition

Robert Von Hebb (born July 26, 1938 – died August 3, 2010) was an American R&B and soul singer. He was also a musician, songwriter, and performer. He is best known for his big hit song from 1966, "Sunny".

Bobby Hebb's Life Story

Bobby Hebb was born in Nashville, Tennessee. His parents, William and Ovalla Hebb, were both musicians who were blind. Bobby and his older brother, Harold Hebb, started performing together when Bobby was just three years old. They were a song-and-dance team in Nashville.

Early Music Career

Bobby Hebb appeared on a TV show hosted by country music producer Owen Bradley. This helped him get a spot with Grand Ole Opry star Roy Acuff. In Acuff's band, Hebb played spoons and other instruments.

Later, Bobby sang backup vocals on Bo Diddley's song "Diddley Daddy." He also played trumpet in a United States Navy jazz band. He even replaced Mickey Baker in the music duo Mickey and Sylvia.

The Story Behind "Sunny"

In November 1963, Bobby Hebb faced two very sad events. The day after President John F. Kennedy was killed, Bobby's brother, Harold, also passed away. These events made Bobby very sad. He found comfort by writing songs.

Many people thought the optimistic song "Sunny" was written right after these tragedies. However, Hebb himself said it was not directly about them. He listened to the Gerald Wilson album You Better Believe It! to feel better.

He said his goal was to "think of happier times." He was "basically looking for a brighter day" because things were difficult.

The Success of "Sunny"

"Sunny" was recorded in New York City. It was released as a single in 1966. The song became a huge hit! It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached No. 3 on the R&B charts and No. 12 in the United Kingdom.

In 1966, Bobby Hebb toured with The Beatles. At that time, his song "Sunny" was actually ranked higher than any Beatles song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart! BMI, a music rights organization, later ranked "Sunny" as number 25 in its "Top 100 songs of the century."

In 1976, Hebb released a new disco version of the song called "Sunny '76." This version was also a small hit.

Other Songs and Later Years

Bobby Hebb had other smaller hits too. These included "A Satisfied Mind" in 1966 and "Love Me" in 1967. He also wrote many other songs. One famous song he co-wrote was "A Natural Man," which was a hit for Lou Rawls in 1971.

Years before "Sunny," Hebb had a song called "Night Train to Memphis" that reached the Top 50 in New York City. In 1972, his song "Love Love Love" reached No. 32 on the UK charts.

After not releasing new music for 35 years, Hebb recorded That's All I Wanna Know in 2005. This was his first new album since 1970. It was released in Europe. The album included two new versions of "Sunny," one with Astrid North and another with Pat Appleton. In 2008, he toured and performed in Japan.

Bobby Hebb's Passing

Bobby Hebb continued to live in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, until he passed away at age 72. He died on August 3, 2010, from lung cancer. He is buried in Nashville's Spring Hill Cemetery.

Music He Released

Albums

• Sunny (1966) – US #103, R&B #21
• Love Games (1970)
• That's All I Wanna Know (2005)

Singles

Songs Bobby Hebb Wrote