Rob Crosby

Born as Robert Crosby Hoar in Sumpter, South Carolina, Rob Crosby built a reputation as a singer and songwriter whose material stood out for its folksy, sensitive lyrics. He composed his first song at age nine and assembled his earliest group, the Radiations, before finishing fifth grade. Influenced by Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon, he continued writing and performing with a three-piece combo while still in high school. During college he joined Savannah for regular appearances in South Carolina nightclubs, then formed the Rob Crosby Group and took the band on tours throughout the Southeast. After the group disbanded in 1974, Crosby moved to Nashville with his family; two former members followed, and the three resumed playing together in local venues.

A staff-writer position at a small music publisher led to his first breakthrough when “She Told Me Yes” became a Top 30 hit for the group Chance in 1985. Other artists, including Lee Greenwood, soon recorded his songs. Between writing sessions he earned additional income by singing radio and television jingles. A showcase performance at a Nashville Entertainment Association songwriter’s night secured him a recording contract. His debut album, Solid Ground, appeared in 1991 and produced three Top 20 singles, among them “Love Will Bring Her Around.” Crosby wrote or co-wrote most of the material and received strong critical notice for the album’s empathetic, female-oriented perspective. The follow-up, Another Time & Place, released in 1992, failed to match its predecessor’s success, and Arista ended the relationship. Crosby resurfaced in 1995 with Starting Now.