In the spring of 1954 The Motor City was pushing out cars by millions producing and re-producing model after model. Most of those models aged, faded and are forgotten but then there was the occasional classic like the Corvette. A car that was launched just one year earlier, a car that represented the changing culture. That same spring on March 7th, Gerald & James Robert welcomed a son that also represented a change in culture. That change was Jeffrey Michael Robert or as he was better known as Jeff Robert.
Jeff lived a nomadic life in his formative years he went to school in eight different states. Each move more painful than the last as he parted ways with places and friends. But those moves strengthen his love for rock music. Music was that one friend that he took him from state to state school to school. Music became Jeff’s best friend and sometime only friend, every spare moment he would play his old secondhand guitar. No matter where life took Jeff during those hard nomadic early years the one constant was that old second hand guitar and trusty AM radio playing the songs of the sixties. Like almost every red-blooded teenager of that era Jeff dreamed of working in the world of Rock n Roll. For most of us the 9 to 5 grind kicks in and the dream of being a Rocker fades away after all we had bills to pay.
Ah but then there’s that rare time when hard work and dedication win out and that rare bird gets do just that. And Jeff did just that. He became a gifted musician working and touring with the who’s who of Rock n Roll including several Rock and Roll Hall of Fames including Don Henley Cheap Trick and Lynyrd Skynrd to name only a few. He was also a noteworthy composer with over 50 titles to his credit. He did so much in the industry musician, writer, producer, engineer; hell he owned a recording studio in in North Hollywood that was the go to the stars. Ah but you asked Jeff about his accomplishments he would tell that being a father to his daughter Daimici and son Jorden we’re his greatest because they were good, kind, decent people. Family and friends were dearest to his heart.
Some would claim that Jeff had music in his blood after all he was born in Detroit Rock City. Like those cars that the Motor City Produced back in the fifties every once awhile a classic emerges in this case it was Jeff Robert. Jeff the rare bird who actually lived out his dream of being a rocker he was a household name but he did just that. He lived out his dreams. Legend has it that there’s a Rock n Roll Heaven and sadly on October 19th Jeff went to join that heavenly band. Family and friends were dearest to his heart
And I’m sure if the was a way to leave with breaking a few hearts he would have choose that path. To quote; Free Bird, “If I leave here tomorrow will you still remember me?” The answer is a simple, yes Jeff we will.
R. Asperger