Robbie Nevil

American pop singer, songwriter, record producer and guitarist

Robbie Nevil

Birth name| Robert S. Nevil
Born|  (1958-10-02) October 2, 1958 (age 66)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres| Pop, R&B, funk, dance
Occupation(s)| Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)| Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Years active| As performer: 1986–1996
As songwriter/producer: 1983–present
Labels| Manhattan Records
Website| Official website

Musical artist

Robert S. Nevil (born October 2, 1958) is an American pop singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist who had five Billboard top 40 hits including his songs "C'est la Vie" (#2, 1986), "Dominoes" (#14, 1987), and "Wot's It to Ya" (#10, 1987).[1]

## Life and career

[edit]

Nevil began playing guitar at age 11 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.[1]

In 1986, he obtained his first recording contract, signing with Manhattan Records, and he recorded his debut album with the producers Alex Sadkin and Phil Thornalley.[1] His debut single "C'est la Vie" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100,[2] propelling the album into the top 40 on both the U.S. pop and Billboard R&B chart. 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] He sang backup on Stevie Nicks' version of "Silent Night" for the holiday compilation A Very Special Christmas.

Nevil's second album was released in 1988; however, it did not match the success of his debut album.[1] A Place Like This (#118) spawned the top 40 moderate hit "Back on Holiday" (#34), and a second single, "Somebody Like You", became a minor hit, peaking at #63.[3] During this period, Nevil was also in discussions regarding becoming the lead singer of Yes following the departure of Jon Anderson.[4][5]

In 1991, Nevil's album Day 1 was released to fewer sales.[1] The lead single "Just Like You" became his biggest hit since his debut album, and his fifth and final top 40 single, peaking at #25 on the Hot 100. His single "For Your Mind" peaked at #86, ending his chart run in the U.S.[2]

Nevil turned to writing and producing for other acts such as Babyface, Jessica Simpson, Destiny's Child, and Japanese pop singer Seiko Matsuda. 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. Nevil shared ASCAP Awards for his work on High School Musical and Hannah Montana in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[6]

From 2011 on, Nevil has been creating, writing, and producing music for Extreme Music, part of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Several of his Extreme Music compositions appear on the 2015 Sony compilation album Party Pop.

Nevil is married with two children and divides his time between Southern California and Colorado. He is the older brother of actor Alex Nevil.

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

Year  | Album  | Peak chart positions

|
|

[7] | US R&B
[8] | AUS
[9] | AUT
[10] | NOR
[11] | SWE
[12] | UK
[13]
1986  | Robbie Nevil[a] | 37  | 32  | —  | 19  | 9  | 6  | 93
1988  | A Place Like This | 118  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 30  | —
1991  | Day 1 | —  | —  | 89  | —  | —  | —  | —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

### Compilation albums

[edit]

* The Best of Robbie Nevil (1998)
* Wot's It to Ya: The Best of Robbie Nevil (1999)
* Party Pop (2015)

### Singles

[edit]

Year  | Song  | Peak chart positions  | Certifications  | Album

|
|
|
|

[3] | US Dance
[14] | US R&B
[15] | AUS
[9] | AUT
[10] | CAN
[16] | NOR
[11] | NZ
[17] | SWE
[12] | UK
[13][18]
1986  | "C'est la Vie"  | 2  | 1  | 7  | 4  | 4  | 1  | 4  | 2  | 2  | 3  |

* MC: Gold[19]

| Robbie Nevil
1987  | "Dominoes"  | 14  | 22  | ―  | 38  | ―  | 26  | ―  | 38  | —  | 26  |
"Wot's It to Ya"  | 10  | 10  | 69  | —  | ―  | 24  | ―  | 37  | ―  | 43  |
1988  | "Back on Holiday"  | 34  | ―  | 52  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  |  | A Place Like This
1989  | "Somebody Like You"  | 63  | ―  | ―  | 176  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  |
"Getting Better"  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | —  |
1991  | "Just Like You"  | 25  | ―  | ―  | 4  | ―  | 30[20] | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  |

* ARIA: Gold[9]

| Day 1
"For Your Mind"  | 86  | ―  | 93  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  |
1992  | "Partners in Crime"  | ―  | ―  | —  | 62  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  |
1996  | "I'll Be There for You"
(duet with Seiko Matsuda) | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | ―  | —  |  | —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

## See also

[edit]

* List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
* List of Billboard number-one dance club songs

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Released in the UK as C'est la Vie.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Demalon, Tom. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
2. ^ a b c "Robbie Nevil Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
3. ^ a b "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
4. ^ Catlin, Roger (April 18, 1991). "Yes: a weird return of '70s once-weres and '80s wanna-bes". Hartford Courant. p. 4. Retrieved April 11, 2019 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "This Prog-Rock Wizard Has Kept Yes Alive for the Past 30 Years" \- article by Andy Greene in Rolling Stone, 14 January 2024
6. ^ "Robbie Nevil - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
7. ^ "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
8. ^ "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
9. ^ a b c Peaks in Australia:
* All except noted: "Robbie Nevil - Australian Charts". Australiancharts.com. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
* "Somebody Like You": "Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 24 April 1989". April 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
* "Partners in Crime" and Day 1 and "Just Like You" certification: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 201.
10. ^ a b "Discographie Robbie Nevil". austriancharts.at. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
11. ^ a b "Discography Robbie Nevil". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
12. ^ a b "Discography Robbie Nevil". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
13. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 390\. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
14. ^ "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - DANCE BLUB SONGS". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
15. ^ "Robbie Nevil: Chart History - HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
16. ^ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 9781896594132.
17. ^ "Robbie Nevil - New Zealand Charts". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
18. ^ "ROBBIE NEVIL - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
19. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. April 13, 1987. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
20. ^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks – August 31, 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Robbie Nevil discography at Discogs
* Robbie Nevil at IMDb
* Robbie Nevil at AllMusic
* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Robbie Nevil

Studio albums|

* Robbie Nevil
* A Place Like This
* Day 1

Singles|

* "C'est la Vie"
* "Dominoes"
* "Wot's It to Ya"

Related articles|

* Manhattan Records

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
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* Norway

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

Other|

* SNAC

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