Robbie Nevil

Robert S. "Robbie" Nevil (born October 2, 1958 in Los Angeles, California) is an American pop singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist. He is perhaps best known for his Billboard Hot 100 hits, "C'est La Vie" (#2, 1986) and "Dominoes" (#14, 1987).

Life and career

Nevil began playing guitar at age eleven 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.

In 1986, he obtained his first recording contract, signing with Manhattan Records, for whom he recorded his debut album with the producers Alex Sadkin and Phil Thornalley. His debut single "C'est la Vie" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, propelling the album into the Top 40 on both the US pop and Billboard R&B chart.^[1] 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]

In 1988, Nevil released his second album, A Place Like This (#118), and hit the Top 40 a fourth time, with the single "Back On Holiday" (#34). A second single, "Somebody Like You", failed to build on that success, peaking at #63.

In 1991, Nevil's third album, Day 1, was released to fewer sales, although the lead single "Just Like You" became his biggest hit since 1987, and his fifth and final Top 40 single, peaking at #25 on the Hot 100. Second single "For Your Mind" stalled at #86, effectively ending his chart run in the US.

Nevil turned to writing and producing for acts such as Babyface, Jessica Simpson, Destiny's Child and Japanese pop singer Seiko Matsuda.^[3] 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 franchises.

Robbie Nevil is the brother of actor Alex Nevil.

Discography

Albums

• Robbie Nevil (1986) #37 U.S. Pop; #32 U.S. R&B; #93 U.K.^[4]
• A Place Like This (1988) #118 U.S.
• Day 1 (1991)
• The Best of Robbie Nevil (1998)
• Wot's It To Ya: The Best Of Robbie Nevil (1999)
• Party Pop (2015)

Singles

• "C'est La Vie" (1986) #2 U.S., #3 U.K.,^[4] #4 Australia
• "Dominoes" (1987) #14 U.S., #26 U.K.,^[4] #38 Australia
• "Wot's It To Ya" (1987) #10 U.S., #43 U.K.^[4]
• "Back On Holiday" (1988) #34 U.S.
• "Somebody Like You" (1989) #63 U.S.
• "Just Like You" (1991) #25 U.S., #3 Australia
• "For Your Mind" (1991) #86 U.S.
• "Partners in Crime" (1992) #62 Australia
• "I'll Be There For You" (1996) (duet with Seiko Matsuda) #35 Japan

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart

References

External links

• Robbie Nevil at the Internet Movie Database
• Allmusic
• Official website