Robbie Nevil
Backgroundsolo_singer
Birth nameRobert S. Nevil
Birth dateOctober 2, 1958 (age 67)
Birth placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
InstrumentVocals, guitar, keyboards
GenrePop, R&B, funk, dance
OccupationSinger, songwriter
Years activeAs performer: 1986–1996
As songwriter/producer: 1983–present
LabelManhattan Records
WebsiteOfficial website

Robert S. Nevil (born October 2, 1958) is an American pop singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist who had five Billboard top 40 hits including his songs "C'est la Vie" (#2, 1986), "Dominoes" (#14, 1987), and "Wot's It to Ya" (#10, 1987).[1]

Life and career

Nevil began playing guitar at age 11 and played in a series of cover bands. He began performing his original music and signed a publishing deal in 1983, writing songs for the Pointer Sisters; El DeBarge; Alison Moyet; and Earth, Wind & Fire.[1]

In 1986, he obtained his first recording contract, signing with Manhattan Records, and he recorded his debut album with the producers Alex Sadkin and Phil Thornalley.[1] His debut single "C'est la Vie" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100,[2] propelling the album into the top 40 on both the U.S. pop and Billboard R&B chart. His second single "Dominoes" hit #14 on the Hot 100 and #22 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, while the third single "Wot's It to Ya" peaked at #10 on the Hot 100 and Dance Club/Play charts, and #69 on the R&B chart.[2] He sang backup on Stevie Nicks' version of "Silent Night" for the holiday compilation A Very Special Christmas.

Nevil's second album was released in 1988; however, it did not match the success of his debut album.[1] A Place Like This (#118) spawned the top 40 moderate hit "Back on Holiday" (#34), and a second single, "Somebody Like You", became a minor hit, peaking at #63.[3] During this period, Nevil was also in discussions regarding becoming the lead singer of Yes following the departure of Jon Anderson.[4][5]

In 1991, Nevil's album Day 1 was released to fewer sales.[1] The lead single "Just Like You" became his biggest hit since his debut album, and his fifth and final top 40 single, peaking at #25 on the Hot 100. His single "For Your Mind" peaked at #86, ending his chart run in the U.S.[2]

Nevil turned to writing and producing for other acts such as Babyface, Jessica Simpson, Destiny's Child, and Japanese pop singer Seiko Matsuda. In 2006, he collaborated with Matthew Gerrard on the Smash Mouth album Summer Girl. Gerrard had been writing for Disney for some time and their work led to a partnership working on Disney projects, including The Cheetah Girls, High School Musical, and Hannah Montana. Nevil shared ASCAP Awards for his work on High School Musical and Hannah Montana in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[6]

From 2011 on, Nevil has been creating, writing, and producing music for Extreme Music, part of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Several of his Extreme Music compositions appear on the 2015 Sony compilation album Party Pop.

Nevil is married with two children and divides his time between Southern California and Colorado. He is the older brother of actor Alex Nevil.

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbumPeak chart positions
US
[7]		US R&B
[8]		AUS
[9]		AUT
[10]		NOR
[11]		SWE
[12]		UK
[13]
1986Robbie Nevil[a]3732—199693
1988A Place Like This118————30—
1991Day 1——89————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Compilation albums

  • The Best of Robbie Nevil (1998)
  • Wot's It to Ya: The Best of Robbie Nevil (1999)
  • Party Pop (2015)

Singles

YearSongPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[3]		US Dance
[14]		US R&B
[15]		AUS
[9]		AUT
[10]		CAN
[16]		NOR
[11]		NZ
[17]		SWE
[12]		UK
[13][18]
1986"C'est la Vie"2174414223Robbie Nevil
1987"Dominoes"1422―38―26―38—26
"Wot's It to Ya"101069—―24―37―43
1988"Back on Holiday"34―52――33――――A Place Like This
1989"Somebody Like You"63――176――――――
"Getting Better"―――――――――—
1991"Just Like You"25――4―30[20]――――Day 1
"For Your Mind"86―93―――――――
1992"Partners in Crime"――—62――――――
1996"I'll Be There for You"
(duet with Seiko Matsuda)		―――――――――—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Released in the UK as C'est la Vie.

References

  1. ^ Demalon, Tom. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Robbie Nevil Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Archived November 17, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  4. ^ Catlin, Roger (18 April 1991). "Yes: a weird return of '70s once-weres and '80s wanna-bes". Hartford Courant. p. 4. Retrieved 11 April 2019. – via Newspapers.com
  5. ^ Greene, Andy. "This Prog-Rock Wizard Has Kept Yes Alive for the Past 30 Years". Rolling Stone, 14 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Robbie Nevil - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived May 19, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  9. ^ Peaks in Australia: * All except noted: "Robbie Nevil - Australian Charts". Australiancharts.com. Retrieved 12 December 2020. * "Somebody Like You": "Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 24 April 1989". April 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2021. * "Partners in Crime" and Day 1 and "Just Like You" certification: p. 201.
  10. ^ "Discographie Robbie Nevil". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Discography Robbie Nevil". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Discography Robbie Nevil". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  13. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th ed. London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 390. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  14. ^ "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - DANCE BLUB SONGS". Billboard. Archived November 17, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS". Billboard. Archived November 18, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  16. ^ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 9781896594132.
  17. ^ "Robbie Nevil - New Zealand Charts". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  18. ^ "ROBBIE NEVIL - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. April 13, 1987. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  20. ^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks – August 31, 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2021.