Who was Robert John? All about the original ‘Sad Eyes’ singer as he dies at 79

Robert John, a beloved singer, died on February 24, 2025, at the age of 79. In a conversation with Rolling Stone, his son talked about how John did not completely heal from a stroke that he had suffered a few years before. He leaves behind his partner, Susan, former wife, Diane, four sons, and beloved grandsons.

The singer was renowned for his classic song Sad Eyes. Released in 1979, the soft rock ballad was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1979. The iconic music's storyline revolves around ending a relationship — a bittersweet breakup.

While Robert John is still popular for singing Sad Eyes, and it became a major hit, his musical career has previously witnessed several classic song releases.

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Everything we know about Robert John's musical career

Born on January 3, 1946, in Brooklyn, the musical maestro's singing journey commenced as a child. According to a Stereogum report, he was born Robert John Pedrick, Jr. He started achieving several highs in his career during his teen years.

In 1958, Robert gave his first hit at the age of just 12 years. At such a young age, he sang White Bucks And Saddle Shoes, registered his first-ever hit, and made it to the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time.

In the initial stage of his musical journey, he was singing for Big Top Records. However, his association with them concluded soon, just after a few songs, according to a report by Deadline.

After his first success, John received accolades for his performance 10 years later. In 1968, his If You Don’t Want My Love was released, a song written by Neil Diamond.

For Columbia Records, the song was featured in the Top 50 in the US and UK. This was when fans started realizing his grasp on his falsetto vocals and high voice.

His rendition of The Lion Sleeps Tonight was released in 1972. Within some time, it made it to the No. 3 position on the Billboard Hot 100, marking yet another significant triumph in his recording career.

He was also praised for the 1980 rendition of Hey There Lonely Girl and the 1984 release Greased Lightning.

Sad Eyes established his name in the musical industry. His notable performance and soulful voice impressed fans worldwide and appeared on successful lists, too. This was the last time when one of his songs appeared on the Billboard Hot 100.

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Robert John talked about his biggest hit in 1979

In a conversation with Rolling Stone, he expressed his surprise at featuring on the Billboard Hot 100. He said:

"I look at the charts and see my name, but I still have trouble believing it’s really me."

He further added:

"I didn’t think the song would be the first single from the album."

Talking more about the song, he shared:

"It’s a ballad and I thought the company was crazy to release it."