{{short description|American blues singer and drummer}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = Robert Ealey | image = 1985602-28-RobertEaley.jpg | caption = Robert Ealey performs in Fort Worth, Texas in June 1985 | image_size = | birth_name = Robert Daniel Ealey | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|1925|12|6|mf=y}}<br/>Texarkana, Texas, United States | death_date = {{death date and age|2001|3|8|1925|12|6|mf=y}}<br/>Fort Worth, Texas, United States | instrument = Vocals | genre = Texas blues, electric blues<ref name="AMG"/> | occupation = Singer, songwriter, drummer | years_active = 1940s–2000 | label = Black Top, various }}
'''Robert Daniel Ealey''' (December 6, 1925 – March 8, 2001)<ref name="Dead">{{cite web|author=Doc Rock |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2001.html |title=The Dead Rock Stars Club 2001 |publisher=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com |date= |access-date=2014-01-28}}</ref> was an American electric blues singer, who performed Texas blues. Among other releases, he recorded a couple of albums for Black Top Records in the 1990s, having earlier formed a duo with U.P. Wilson.<ref name="Club">{{cite web|url=http://www.theclubroom.org/htm/upwilson.htm|title=U. P. Wilson, Blues Musician: September 4th 1934 to September 22nd 2004|access-date=September 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728093054/http://www.theclubroom.org/htm/upwilson.htm |archive-date=July 28, 2011 }}</ref> Ealey also worked with Tone Sommer, Mike Buck, and Mike Morgan.<ref name="AMG"/>
Ealey's best-known work includes "One Love One Kiss" and "Turn Out the Lights". He variously worked with the Boogie Chillun Boys, the Juke Jumpers and the Five Careless Lovers.<ref name="Dead"/>
==Life and career== Ealey was born in Texarkana, Texas. In his teens he sang in a quartet in his church.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|author=Skelly, Richard |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/robert-ealey-mn0000285893/biography |title=Robert Ealey: Biography |publisher=AllMusic.com |date= |access-date=2014-01-28}}</ref>
Following service in the Army in World War II, Ealey moved to Dallas in 1951,<ref name="Texas">{{cite web |url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fea16 |title=Ealey, Robert |author=Texas State Historical Association |date= |publisher=Tshaonline.org |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> having been singing professionally from the age of 20. In Fort Worth, he formed a duo, the Boogie Chillun Boys, with the guitarist U. P. Wilson.<ref name="AMG"/> The Boogie Chillun Boys provided inspiration to fellow Texan singer and guitarist Ray Sharpe.<ref name="Club"/> The Bluebird Club in Fort Worth was Ealey's musical base for more than thirty years.<ref name="AMG"/> His involvement was such that he co-owned the club from 1977 to 1989.<ref name="Texas"/> His 1973 live album, ''Live at the New Bluebird Nightclub'', was billed as by Robert Ealey and the Five Careless Lovers, and included contributions from the drummer, Mike Buck. It was co-produced by T-Bone Burnett.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elusivedisc.com/robert-ealey-his-five-careless-lovers-live-at-the-new-blue-bird-nite-club-180g-lp-blue-vinyl/|title=Robert Ealey & His Five Careless Lovers Live At The New Blue Bird Nite Club 180g LP (Blue Vinyl)|website=Elusivedisc.com|access-date=March 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://daddykool.com/UPC/662582742718|title=Robert Ealey / His Five Careless Lovers – Live At The New Blue Bird Nite Club (Blue) [180 Gram] | daddykool|access-date=March 6, 2021|website=Daddykool.com}}</ref>
By the 1990s, Ealey and the guitarist Tone Sommer started touring more widely, and their authentic Texas blues found a wider audience in the United States and Europe. Television advertisement work also expanded the recognition of Ealey's music. His 1996 album, ''Turn Out the Lights'', issued by Black Top Records, saw Ealey work with blues accompanists including Mike Morgan and Sommer on guitar. The 1997 follow-up, ''I Like Music When I Party'', was similarly successful.<ref name="AMG"/>
Ealey died in Fort Worth on March 8, 2001, at the age of 75, of undisclosed causes following an automobile accident the previous December.<ref name="Dead"/> He was interred with military honors at the Dallas–Fort Worth National Cemetery.<ref name="Texas"/>
In 2003, Aristokraft issued the compilation album ''Robert Ealey: Blues That Time Forgot''.<ref name="Texas"/>
Ealey is the subject of the 2020 Joe Nick Patoski book, ''Robert Ealey and His Five Careless Lovers''.<ref>{{cite book|publisher=Blurb, Inc.|date=January 1, 2020|author=Patoski, Joe Nick|title=Robert Ealey and His Five Careless Lovers|isbn=978-1715497521}}</ref>
==Selected album discography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year || Title || Record label |- | 1973 || ''Live at the New Bluebird Nightclub'' || style="text-align:center;"|Blue Royal |- | 1981 || ''Bluebird Open'' || style="text-align:center;"|Amazing |- | 1995 || ''If You Need Me'' || style="text-align:center;"|Topcat |- | 1996 || ''Turn Out the Lights'' || style="text-align:center;"|Black Top |- | 1997 || ''I Like Music When I Party'' || style="text-align:center;"|Black Top |}<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/robert-ealey-mn0000285893/discography |title=Robert Ealey: Discography |publisher=AllMusic.com |date= |access-date=2014-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= |date= |title=The Robert Ealey Memorial Site |url=http://www.robertealey.com/discography |access-date=August 25, 2011 |publisher=Robertealey.com}}</ref>
==See also== *List of electric blues musicians *List of Texas blues musicians *Texas Roadhouse Music
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{YouTube|Q_Py2CVmFNw|"Milk Cow Blues" (1994) with Mike Morgan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ealey, Robert}} Category:1925 births Category:2001 deaths Category:American blues singers Category:Songwriters from Texas Category:Electric blues musicians Category:People from Texarkana, Texas Category:Singers from Texas Category:Texas blues musicians Category:20th-century American singers Category:20th-century American drummers Category:American male drummers Category:20th-century American male singers Category:United States Army personnel of World War II Category:African Americans in World War II Category:American male songwriters Category:African-American United States Army personnel Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:20th-century American songwriters Category:Drummers from Texas