Rockie Robbins, born Edward W. Robbins, Jr. in Minneapolis, took up singing during childhood. His self-titled debut LP reached stores on A&M Records during spring 1979 after he collaborated with noted arranger-producers Richard Evans, whose résumé included Natalie Cole and Peabo Bryson, and Johnny Pate, whose credits encompassed Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions, Lonette McKee, and OKeh Records. Although the ballad singles “If I Ever Lose You” and a cover of EWF’s “Be Ever Wonderful” attracted considerable radio exposure without becoming major commercial successes, the latter single reached number 67 R&B late in 1979. The project came together against long odds after the original session tapes were erased during transit from the studio to the label. Despite modest sales, A&M kept Robbins under contract.
In spring 1980 the follow-up album You and Me appeared after he worked with producer-arranger Bobby Martin, who had previously arranged numerous hits for Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International Records and for fellow A&M act LTD led by Jeffrey Osborne. The title track climbed to number nine R&B, while the subsequent single, the danceable and motivational “Hang Tough,” reached number 70 R&B. Other A&M singles—“After Loving You,” “Time to Think,” and “I Believe in Love”—also registered as moderate hits. Moving to MCA Records, Robbins joined artists such as Loleatta Holloway and Ronnie McNeir in releasing a second self-titled LP; that MCA album surfaced in early 1985 and spawned the charting single “We Belong Together.”
