In the spring of 1954, the Motor City was churning out cars by the millions, producing and re-producing model after model. Most of those models aged, faded and are forgotten, however, not the occasional classic like the Corvette, a car that was launched just one year earlier. A car that represented a change in culture.
Also, that same spring on March 7th, Gerald & Joyce Robert welcomed a son that also represented a change in culture. That change was Jeffrey Michael Robert, otherwise known as Jeff Robert. Jeff lived a nomadic life in his formative years having gone to school in eight different states. Each move was more painful than the last, as he parted ways with places and friends, yet those moves had strengthened his love for rock music. Music was the one friend that followed him from state to state and school to school. Music became Jeff’s best friend and sometimes his only friend. Every spare moment he had Jeff would play his old secondhand guitar.
No matter where life took Jeff during those hard nomadic early years, one thing remained constant…his old secondhand guitar and his trusty AM radio playing songs from the sixties. Along with almost every-other 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 all have bills to pay.
For the few, there’s that rare time when hard work and dedication win out and that rare bird gets to live out his dream. Jeff did just that. He became a gifted musician working and touring with the who’s who of Rock n Roll including several Rock n Roll Hall of Famers, 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. He was a musician, writer, producer, and engineer; hell, he owned a recording studio in North Hollywood that was the go-to studio for the stars. If you were to ask Jeff about his accomplishments, he would tell you that being a father to his daughter Daimici and to his son Jordan were his greatest achievements. Proud that they grew into good, kind, decent people. Family and friends were held 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 50’s, every once in a while, a classic emerges and, in this case, it was Jeff Robert. He was a rare bird who actually lived out his dream of being a rocker. Although Jeff Robert wasn’t a household name. He lived out his Rock n Roll dreams. Legend has it that there is a Rock n Roll Heaven and sadly on October 19th, 2025, Jeff joined that heavenly band. He definitely earned his wings.
I’m sure if there had been a way to leave this earthly plane without breaking any hearts Jeff would have chosen that path. That’s not how the story goes. 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