Who were the popular teen idols of the 1960s, particularly the Bobbys?
In the golden age of music, the 1950s and 1960s, a peculiar trend emerged that saw several individuals named Bobby rise to fame. This phenomenon can be attributed to the widespread popularity of the name Robert during the 1930s and 1940s, with Robert being the most popular boys' name in the 1930s and the second most popular in the 1940s [1][2].
Many boys who grew up during this time were nicknamed Bobby, and as they reached their teenage years, they became the teen idols of the 1960s, often referred to as "Bobby-soxers" due to their fans' fashion [1][2][5].
One of the most notable "Bobbies" was Bobby Vinton, who soulfully declared his love in "Blue Velvet" and "Blue on Blue," amassing eight top ten hits in the '60s [3]. If asked about who sang "the blues" during this time, the individual might have said Bobby Vinton due to his numerous blue-themed hits.
However, Bobby Vinton was not the only successful "Bobby" of the era. Bobby Darin, known for his more sophisticated sound, left teenybopper-dom behind with songs like "Mack the Knife." Before the British band The Beatles, American Bobbies topped the charts. Bobby Day achieved success with "Rockin' Robin" and "Over and Over" in 1958, and Bobby Darin had a hit with "Splish Splash" the same year [9].
The Spinners' Bobby Smith was another popular "Bobby," while Bobby Bare had a hit with "Detroit City." Bobby Rydell had a top ten hit with "Volare" and acted as Ann-Margret's boyfriend Hugo in the movie musical Bye Bye Birdie.
In the realm of soul music, Etta James soulfully declared her love in "Bobby Is His Name," and Darlene Love used Phil Spector's "wall of sound" to express her anticipation in "Wait 'til My Bobby Gets Home."
Even in the world of pop, "Bobbies" made their mark. Bobby Lewis had a hit with "Tossin' and Turnin'," and Bobby Sherman had a hit with "Little Woman." Bobby Freeman had a hit with "Do You Want to Dance," and Bobby Goldsboro had a hit with "Tears of a Clown."
In the theatre, Stephen Sondheim's Company started with lyrics that included "Bobby." Lesley Gore warned about a potential romantic rival in "Run Bobby Run."
Bobby Womack also found success with "I'm Lookin' for a Love." Though direct rankings for "Bobby" alone in those decades are not provided, the fact that Robert ranked so high means that many boys would have used the nickname Bobby, which explains why the name was common among boys who grew into the teen idols of the 1960s.
In conclusion, the popularity of the name Bobby in the 1930s and 1940s, reflecting the top-ranking popularity of the full name Robert during that time, led to a surge of successful musicians bearing the name Bobby in the 1950s and 1960s. This trend not only enriched the music scene but also provided fans with a diverse range of music to enjoy.
[1] https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decade/1930s.html [2] https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decade/1940s.html [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Vinton [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Day [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Darin [6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spinners [7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Rydell [8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bare [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Sherman [10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Goldsboro [11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Freeman [12] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Womack [13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_(musical) [14] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesley_Gore [15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etta_James [16] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlene_Love
Pop-culture during the 1960s was heavily influenced by the numerous successful musicians named Bobby, with Bobby Vinton, Bobby Darin, Bobby Day, and Bobby Sherman among the most notable. Their diverse range of music, including Bobby Womack's soulful declarations and Bobby Goldsboro's emotional ballads, greatly enriched the music scene, offering fans a broad spectrum to enjoy.
In pop-culture, the name Bobby was synonymous with musical success, a testament to the widespread popularity of the name during the 1930s and 1940s when Robert was the most popular boys' name.
