Charles "Rocky" 'Roberts (August 23, 1940 – January 13, 2005) was an American naturalized Italian rhythm and blues singer.
Born in Tanner, 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."Italian fans rave for 'Bama Singer", UPI in The Beaver County Times, May 6, 1970.
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."Rocky Roberts, 66; Ex-Boxer Made a Hit Record, Movie in Italy", Los Angeles Times, January 16, 2005.
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 and won the Festivalbar."From the Music Capitals of the World: Milan", Billboard, September 30, 1967. 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.
Roberts sang the Luis Bacalov-written theme song from the 1966 film, Django. Quentin Tarantino reused the recording as the opening theme for his 2012 film Django Unchained.Randy Lewis, "Quentin Tarantino discusses the music of 'Django Unchained'", Los Angeles Times, December 25, 2012.
He died of lung cancer in Rome in 2005 at the age of 64.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1967 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
External links .