Robert M. "Bobby" Roberts (May 9, 1929 – October 10, 2004) (born Robert Rosenberg) was a dancer, performer, personal talent manager, concert promoter, record executive and Hollywood film producer, entertainment entretrepreneur.
In 1964, Roberts co-founded Dunhill Productions, which became Dunhill Records the following year. Roberts also managed performers such as The Mamas & the Papas, Richard Pryor, Mort Sahl, Cass Elliot, Paul Anka, Ann-Margret, Johnny Rivers and many others.[1]
Roberts formed Mums Records with Hal Landers and Don Altfeld in 1972.[2] The label, which was distributed by Columbia Records, had several notable releases, including Albert Hammond's hit single "It Never Rains in Southern California", and the album Slow Flux by Steppenwolf.[3]
Early Life
Born in Brooklyn, New York to Sam Rosenberg, a clothing salesman in the theatre district and Anne (nee Melshanker,) a housewife. Roberts was one of 2 children, Robert and a sister Harriette, who married Record executive, Jay Lasker. The family were Eastern European Jews.
As a child, Bobby learned to tap dance to under the direction of famed dancer and teacher Henry LaTang and would go on to perform on Broadway under Producer Michael Todd, who then become a mentor to the young Bobby. Bobby famously played a “Tree” in UP IN CENTRAL PARK,
In the 1950’s, through the assistance of his father, Bobby was introduced to members of the Dunhill Dance Trio who were looking to replace a member. After an audition which took place in the hallway of a local dance studio, due to not being able to book a room, Roberts was hired on the spot and left to join the Danny Kaye tour two weeks later. Over the next several years, Roberts and The Dunhills toured internationally, and appearing at venues such as the London Paladium (1951), where he appeared on stage at a performance for The Queen of England alongside Danny Kaye, Orson Wells, Judy Garland and many others.
The dance trio was featured in the Betty Grable film, Call Me Mister, with Dale Robertson, Dan Daly and Danny Thomas in 1951.
The Trio opened the Riviera in Las Vegas with Marlene Deitrict in 1951. They also perform all along the iconic Las Vegas Strip, as well as touring with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Perry Como to name a few.
The Dunhills appeared on the Milton Berel Show, Nat King Cole Show, The Tonight Show as well as frequently worked with luminaries such as Betty Grable, Danny Kaye and others.
Roberts left the Dunhills in 1959 after marrying and joined Pierre Cossette as a junior partner.
Early 1960’s
Bobby Roberts began his career as a Jr. Partner for Pierre Cossette, managing musical acts including The Mamas and The Papas, Steppenwolf, Barry McQuire, Richard Pryor, Johnny Rivers, Paul Anka, Jan and Dean, Mort Sahl, Dick Shawn, Albert Hammond, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil. He also managed many actors, including Ann-Margaret, Victor Borge, Lee Jay Cobb, George Hamilton and tap dancer John Bubbles.
Mid 1960’s
Along with Lou Adler, Jay Lasker, Hal Landers and Pierre Cossette, Roberts founded Dunhill Records in 1964, overseeing and managing such acts as Three Dog Night, Grass Roots, Jan and Dean, Steppenwolf, The Mommas and The Papas, Johnny Rivers, Barry McQuire, Richard Harris, Richard Pryor, Yul Brian along with Cass Elliot as a solo act. Over the two years which Roberts was involved with Dunhill Records, the company sold tens of millions of albums. In 1966, Lou Adler negotiated a sale of the company to American Broadcasting Co., with Roberts continuing to manage the talent.
In 1967, Roberts and Hal Landers established Landers/Roberts Production, producing The Gypsy Moths, based on the novel of the same name by James Drought, directed by John Frankenheimer, and featuring the last teaming of Burt Lancaster and Debra Kerr. The film also featured Gene Hackman, and Bonnie Bedelia in her first role.
1969 Roberts produced the movie Monte Walsh, based on the novel by Jack Shaffer, (SHANE), starring Lee Marvin, Jack Palance, Jeanne Moreau (This was the only film which Moreau acted in that was produced in the US) Directed by William Fraker in his directorial debut, Monte Walsh is in the top 10 Westerns of Working Cowboys of America. Released in 1970.
Prophesy Records
Short-lived U.S. label founded by Mickey Shapiro in conjunction with Landers/Roberts and was active between 1970-73. First distributed by Bell Records, then by ATCO / Atlantic. Prophesy produced acts such as The Jackson Sisters (I Believe in Miracles), Pollution with Tata, and Black Pearl. Additionally, the produced the soundtrack for The Hot Rock, with Quincey Jones.
1971
Mums Records
In 1971 Roberts started Mums Records. “Mums the Word!”, producing the likes of PF Sloanes, Albert Hammond and Michael Hazelwood as writers, (99 Miles from LA, To All the Girls I Loved Before, It Never Rains in Southern California, The Air That I Breathe). Mums Records music was distributed by Columbia Records.
1972
The Hot Rock
Roberts returned to movie production, making The Hot Rock, based on the novel by Donald Westlake and written by William Goldman. Staring Robert Redford, George Seigel, Zero Mostel, Ron Leibman and Moses Gunn. The movie was released in the UK with the alternative title How to Steal a Diamond in Four Uneasy Lessons.
Death Wish
Produced in association with Dino DeLaurentiis, and greenlit by Robert Evans, Death Wish was part of the second golden Age of Hollywood, and staring Charles Bronson, William Redfield, Hope Lange, Vincent Gardena, and was in part responsible for contributing to the early careers of Laurence Hilton Jacobs, Jeff Goldbloom and Christopher Guest, who played a young police patrolman. The film is based on the 1973 Brian Garfield novel of the same name, and adapted for film by Wendell Mayes. The film also featured the music of Jazz master, Herbie Hancock.
Bank Shot
Directed by Gower Champion and written by Wendell Mayes, based on the Donald Westlake book by the same name, and starring George C Scott, Joanna Cassidy, Frank McCry and Sorrell Brooke.
Damnation Alley
Based on the novel written by Roger Zelezny and directed by Jack Smight, music by Jerry Goldsmith and staring Jan-Michael Vincent, George Peppard, Dominque Sanda, Paul Winfield and Jackie Earl Haley. While originally poorly received, the film has achieved a cult following.
Joyride 1977
Co-written and Directed by Joseph Ruben, the film starred Desi Arnez, Jr., Robert Carradine, Joan Lockart and the young Melanie Griffiths. Roberts Executive Produced the film in conjunction with Samuel Arkoff and Hal Landers.
Death Wish 2
Starring Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland and featuring Laurence Fishburne, The movie also featured Vincent Gardena as the Detective. Directed by Michael Winner and produced by Cannon Films under cousins Menaham Golan and Yoram Globus.
Just Tell me You Love Me
A comedy set in Hawaii, directed by Tony Mordente and written by Jay Landers. The movie starred Robert Hegyes, Lisa Hartman (Black), Ricci Martin, June and Anne Lockhart. Music for the film was written by Carol Connors and Dick Halligan, and performed by England Dan and John Ford Coley.
Roberts continued to work with musical artists, managing The Knack (My Sherona) and others throughout the 1970’s.
1980
Trafalger Advisors
In 1984, Roberts briefly joined Charlie Napp in the establishment of Trafalgar Advisors and American Savings Bank, but chose to exit in order to accept the opportunity to become President of Lorimar Music and start Morocco Records.
Lorimar Music Group
Roberts was named President of Lorimar Music Group in the mid 1982. Hired by Merve Adelson and Irwin Melaski to monetize the division, Roberts single handedly turned the publishing division into a profitable venture. Building on the success of the release of the theme song from Dallas, Roberts was able to successfully market the music of the Lorimar produced programs to the general public.
Morocco Records
Along with Roger Paglia and David J. Holman, Roberts started Morocco Records, a subsidiary of Motown Records, producing The Coyote Sisters with Leah Kunkel ( younger sister of Cass Elliot,) Marty Gwinn Townsend and Rene Armand. The trio achieved moderate success in the Adult Contemporary Market with such hits as "Straight from the Heart (Into Your Life)" and “I’ve Got a Radio”.
1989 Dunhill Compact Classics
Also known as DCC, Dunhill Compact Classics, the label reissued previously recorded music on CD, pioneering the oldies market for Compact CDs, remastering the albums to make them compatible with the digital format. Formed by former ABC / Dunhill Records executive Marshall Blonstein as Dunhill Compact Classics to reissue recordings on audiophile 24k gold-plated CD and vinyl LPs. Remasters of acts such as Judy Garland Tony Bennet, Sam Cook, The Beatles by the London Symphony Ochestra, Ray Charles, and others.
Dunhill Digital
Pioneered computer gaming for personal use.
American Realty Advisors
David Semas was a former Senior Vice President, real estate division Searson Leahmans American Express. Roberts and he developed multiple real estate venture including hotels, most notably the Canyon Hotel in Palm Springs, CA. Roberts later said that the hotel was a forever project, until he "...received an offer which he couldn't refuse."
Sight and Sound Production
Beginning in the 1970’s, Landers/Roberts, in conjunction with Artist Consultants Productions founders, Lou Robin and Allen Tinkly, along with Solar Productions founder, Dick Griffey, started Sight and Sound Productions, which would become one of the largest international concert promotions companies in the world, Sight and Sound Productions presented acts such as Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder, Loggins and Messina, Simon & Garfunkle and many other. Sight and Sound also created the One Night Only marketing format.
1993
Dunhill Media Services with Roger Paglia
Dunhill Media Services was a leader in the field of broadcast video tape recycling service for small and medium cable networks, TV stations and production companies across the United States, establishing one of the first green media companies. The company operated until 1998, when Roberts and Paglia took over management of the Santa Clarita Studios.
Appollo Smart System
Roberts became involved with Apollo Pharmacy Smart Systems, which designed and maintained computer systems for the Pharmaceutical Industry. Based on the US militaries Dragon system, it allowed pharmacists to use voice dictation for processing patient records.
1999
Santa Clarita Studios
Roberts took over management of the Santa Clarita Studios in partnership with Roger Paglia, successfully building the facilities occupancy to over 90% usage capacity. Projects from this time period include Inherit the Wind, 13th Warrior, Tuesdays with Maury, Polly, the television show Cruel Intentions as well as countless music videos and Television Commercials.
During this period, Roberts also acted as the Entertainment Director for Spotlight 29 Casino, bring in such talent as Debbie Reynolds, Frank Sinatra, Jr. and Bill Cosby, which assisted in putting the facility on the map by engaging top name talent.
Additionally, Roberts was the Entertainment Director for Indian Wells Tennis Garden and repeated his success by booking acts such as Los Lobos, Pavarotti, Striper and Mana.
2000
Roberts became the president of Millennium Multimedia.com, with the intention to create live experiences, such as Christmas Eve performance of Balanchines Nutcracker, and a night club in Las Vegas with multiple themes and experiences. They also reignited LA Stars basketball team, part of the American Basketball Association 2000.
2003
Working with Center Staging, and using the structure of Big Brother, Roberts piloted the idea of creating a show based on showing the creative process of music artists, including Tony Bennet, Brian McKnight, Richard Sherman, Chris Issacs, Taylor Dane, The Pussy Cat Dolls, and many others. With over 5,000 hours of materials filmed, the show has yet to be released.
Personal Life
Roberts loved Boxing and Laker Basketball. On Saturday nights in Brooklyn, he would often listen to the radio broadcasts of the matches with his father, and became a long time fan of Joe Lewis, the Bronx Bomber. For many years, he was a regular attendant of the Los Angeles Lakers games, where he and his family would spend time together supporting the local team.
Education
Like many other young performers, Roberts attended Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn New York
Marriage and Family
Roberts was married to Lynne (nee Greene) who he met in Las Vegas where she was working as a cocktail waitress. They were introduced after Greene attended a performance of the Dunhills, and, upon seeing Roberts, declared that “he’s the cuteist thing she had ever seen.” They were married in Las Vegas in December of 1959, and had a formal ceremony in early 1960. They had 4 children: Kurtis who was from a previous marriage by Greene and formally adopted by Roberts, Todd, Darren and Brooke.
Philanthropy
Always modest, Roberts quietly supported various Jewish and Native American Charities, both individually and with his partner, Hal Landers. He also supported the schools which his children attended, as well as the synogouge attended by his family.