Bobby Hendricks
Birth nameRobert Raymond Hendricks
Born(1938-02-22)February 22, 1938
Columbus, Ohio, U.S
DiedMarch 25, 2022(2022-03-25) (aged 84)
Lancaster, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1957–2017
LabelsSue Records
Rhino/Atlantic Records
Cub Records
Alta Records
Collectables Records
Warner Music Group
United Artists Records
Time-Life Music
Ace Records (UK)
Bear Family Records
Various Indie Labels

Robert Raymond Hendricks (February 22, 1938 – March 25, 2022)[1][2] was an American R&B singer who charted two hits in the late 1950s.

Life and career

Hendricks was born in Columbus, Ohio, where he joined his first group, the Crowns, at the age of 16.[1] He was then a member of The Swallows, and The Flyers, before joining The Drifters in 1957. He sang lead on songs including "Drip Drop", and then became a successful solo act.[3]

His single "Itchy Twitchy Feeling", which was covered by his former band soon after it began attracting radio airplay, hit the U.S. charts, reaching No. 5 on the R&B Singles chart and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958.[3] Hendricks's only other charting single, "Psycho",[3] was a novelty song depicting a psychiatrist talking with a patient.[4] "Psycho" peaked at No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. New York City disc jockey Dr. Jive (Tommy Smalls) was the voice of the psychiatrist on "Psycho".[5]

From 1961, on and off, through 2008, Bobby Hendricks worked as lead singer with Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters[3] and appeared with them on PBS in the Doo Wop 51 television broadcast and Doo Wop Love Songs, singing "Stand By Me" with Bill Pinkney, Charlie Thomas, and Ben E. King.

Bobby Hendricks died of complications from Alzheimer's disease at his home in Lancaster, California on March 25, 2022. He was 84 years old. He had been diagnosed with the disease in 2016.[6]

Discography

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Singles

Albums

Compilation albums (various artists)

(Albums that include at least one track by Bobby Hendricks)

References

  1. ^ a b "Robert "Bobby" Hendricks", Dignity Memorial. Retrieved April 27, 2022
  2. ^ Bobby Hendricks biography, AllMusic
  3. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 111. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  4. ^ Review of Itchy Twitchy Feeling, AllMusic
  5. ^ "The Sue Records Story". 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-12-29. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Bobby Hendricks of the Original Drifters", thebobbyhendricks.com. Retrieved April 27, 2022
  7. ^ "Howard Guyton - I Watched You Slowly Slip Away". 45cat.com. Retrieved 7 July 2021.