Robert Calvin Bland, born Robert Calvin Brooks on January 27, 1930, and who passed away on June 23, 2013, was professionally known as Bobby "Blue" Bland. He was an American blues singer who combined gospel music with blues and rhythm and blues (R&B) styles. He was described as one of the great storytellers in blues and soul music, creating powerful songs about love, betrayal, and giving up, set against loud and emotional music arrangements. His unique style was inspired by a preacher from Detroit named CL Franklin, as Bland listened to his sermons. He was sometimes called the "Lion of the Blues" and the "Sinatra of the Blues." His music was influenced by Nat King Cole.

Bland was honored with induction into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1981, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2012. He was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame noted that he was "second in stature only to B.B. King as a product of Memphis's Beale Street blues scene." In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Bland at number 163 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Life and career

Robert Calvin Brooks was born in Barretville, Tennessee. His father, I. J. Brooks, left the family shortly after Robert was born. Later, Robert took the name "Bland" from his stepfather, Leroy Bridgeforth, who was also known as Leroy Bland. Robert left school in third grade to work in cotton fields and never finished school.

With his mother, Robert moved to Memphis in 1947. There, he began singing with local gospel groups, including the Miniatures. He often visited Beale Street, a famous area in Memphis, where he met other musicians like B.B. King, Rosco Gordon, Junior Parker, and Johnny Ace. These musicians were known as the Beale Streeters.

In 1951, a talent scout named Ike Turner recorded Robert for Modern Records at Tuff Green’s house in Memphis. Because Robert could not read or write, they first recorded the one song he knew, "They Call It Stormy Monday." This recording was not released, but Robert later recorded the song in 1961, which became one of his popular songs. Turner played piano on Robert’s first two records, which were released under the name Robert Bland. Between 1951 and 1952, Robert recorded songs for Modern and Sun Records, but they were not very successful. These recordings caught the attention of Duke Records.

Robert’s early recordings from the 1950s showed his effort to be unique, but his progress was stopped for two years when he joined the U.S. Army. During his time in the Army, he performed in a band with singer Eddie Fisher.

When Robert returned to Memphis in 1954, some of his friends, like Johnny Ace, were successful. Robert joined Ace’s group and returned to Duke Records, which was run by Don Robey. Robert signed a contract he could not read, which gave him only half a cent per record sold, far less than the usual industry rate of 2 cents.

In 1955, Robert released his first single for Duke Records. In 1956, he began touring with Junior Parker in a group called Blues Consolidated. He worked with bandleader Bill Harvey and arranger Joe Scott, developing his signature vocal style and creating the melodic big-band blues songs for which he became famous. These songs were often accompanied by guitarist Wayne Bennett. Unlike many blues musicians, Robert did not play any instruments.

Robert’s first major success came in 1957 with the song "Farther Up the Road," which reached number 1 on the R&B chart and number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. He had many other R&B hits, including "Little Boy Blue" (1958). He also recorded an album with Parker called Blues Consolidated in 1958. His most famous songs from the early 1960s included "Cry Cry Cry," "I Pity the Fool" (number 1 on the R&B chart in 1961), and "Turn On Your Love Light," which became a widely covered standard. Many of these songs were written by Joe Scott, though credits were often given to Robey. Robert also recorded a version of T-Bone Walker’s song "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)," which was mistakenly titled "Stormy Monday Blues."

Robert’s last number 1 R&B hit was "That’s the Way Love Is" in 1963. He continued to have many R&B chart entries through the mid-1960s. His songs mostly sold in the R&B market, not achieving wide success in mainstream pop music. He had 23 top ten hits on the Billboard R&B chart. In Joel Whitburn’s book Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995, Robert was ranked number 13 of all-time top-charting artists.

Financial problems forced Robert to reduce his touring band, and in 1968, the group disbanded. He struggled with depression and alcohol dependence but stopped drinking in 1971. His record company, Duke Records, was sold to ABC Records, leading to the release of successful blues and soul albums, including His California Album and Dreamer, arranged by Michael Omartian and produced by Steve Barri. These albums, including Reflections in Blue (1977), were recorded in Los Angeles with top session musicians.

The first single from His California Album, "This Time I'm Gone for Good," returned Robert to the pop Top 50 in 1973 and reached the R&B top 10. The opening track from Dreamer, "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City," was a strong R&B hit. A version of this song was later recorded by the band Whitesnake in 1978 and sampled by Kanye West on Jay-Z’s album The Blueprint (2001). The song also appeared in the movie The Lincoln Lawyer (2011). Robert’s song "I Wouldn't Treat a Dog" reached number 3 on the R&B chart in 1974 but only number 88 on the pop chart. Later attempts to blend his music with disco styles were not successful. In 1980, Robert released a tribute album to his mentor Joe Scott, Sweet Vibrations, but it sold poorly outside his traditional audience.

In 1985, Robert signed with Malaco Records, which focused on traditional Southern Black music. He continued to tour and perform with B.B. King. Despite health issues, Robert recorded new albums and performed at blues and soul festivals worldwide. His 1985 album Members Only reached number 45 on Billboard’s R&B albums chart, and its title song reached number 54 on the R&B singles chart. This was Robert’s last chart single and became his signature song. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. The Hall of Fame described him as "second in stature only to B.B. King as a product of Memphis’s Beale Street blues scene."

Northern-Irish singer Van Morrison covered Robert’s song "Turn On Your Love Light" while performing with the band Them and later included "Ain't Nothing You Can't Do" on his 1974 live album It's Too Late to Stop Now. Robert occasionally sang at Morrison’s concerts. A previously unreleased duet of Morrison and Robert singing "Tupelo Honey" was included on Morrison’s 2007 compilation album The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3.

In 2008, British singer Mick Hucknall of Simply Red released an album called Tribute to Bobby, featuring songs associated with Robert. The album reached number 18 on the UK Albums Chart.

Death

Bland passed away on June 23, 2013, at his home in Germantown, Tennessee, which is a suburb of Memphis. Family members said he died after a long-term illness. He was 83 years old. He was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis. He was survived by his wife, Willie Martin Bland, and his son, Rodd, who is also a musician. After Bland's death, Rodd shared with news media that his father had recently told him that the blues musician James Cotton was Bland's half-brother.

Accolades

Bland was nominated for seven Grammy Awards during his career.

He received these awards and honors:

• Blues Hall of Fame – inducted in 1981
• Rhythm and Blues Pioneer Award – 1992
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – inducted in 1992
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award – 1997
• Rhythm & Blues Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award – 1998
• Grammy Hall of Fame – "Turn On Your Love Light" (1999)
• Memphis Music Hall of Fame – inducted in 2012
• National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame – inducted in 2021

Discography

• Blues Consolidated, 1958 (Duke Records) (with Junior Parker)
• The Best of Bobby Bland, 1967 (Duke Records)
• The Best of Bobby Bland, vol. 2, 1968 (Duke Records)
• First Class Blues, 1987 (Malaco Records)
• The "3B" Blues Boy: The Blues Years 1952–1959, 1991 (Ace Records)
• I Pity the Fool: The Duke Recordings, vol. 1, 1992 (MCA)
• Turn on Your Love Light: The Duke Recordings, vol. 2, 1994 (MCA)
• That Did It!: The Duke Recordings, vol. 3, 1996 (MCA)
• Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: The Duke Recordings, 1998 (MCA, Duke/Peacock)
• Greatest Hits, Vol. 2: The ABC–Dunhill/MCA Recordings, 1998 (MCA)
• The Anthology, 2001 (MCA)
• Unmatched: The Very Best of Bobby Bland, 2011 (Malaco)
• Angel in Anguish: The Deep, Deep Soul of Bobby Blue Bland, 2013 (Fingertips)