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Robert Hazard

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For deputy governor of the Colony of Rhode Island, see Robert Hazard (Rhode Island).
Robert Hazard
Birth nameRobert Rimato
Born(1948-08-21)August 21, 1948
DiedAugust 5, 2008(2008-08-05) (aged 59)

Robert Hazard, born Robert Rimato,[1] (August 21, 1948 – August 5, 2008),[2] was an American musician known for composing and recording the song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", which Cyndi Lauper covered, turning the song into a best-selling hit.[3] He also composed the 1980s new wave and MTV hits, "Escalator of Life" and "Change Reaction", which he performed with his band, Robert Hazard and the Heroes, which was popular in the Philadelphia club scene during the 1980s.[4] These songs appeared on the five song EP Robert Hazard, released in 1982.[5] Hazard's first major-label album, Wing of Fire, was released by RCA Records in January 1984.[6][7]

Music

Aside from "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", some of Hazard's other popular songs include "Change Reaction", "Escalator of Life", and "Out Of The Blue".

Life

Hazard was the son of an opera singer.[1] He grew up in Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Springfield High School in 1966. He was profiled in a 1981 Rolling Stone article by Kurt Loder. In the piece, Loder describes Hazard's musical history as a musician "... who started out as a Dylan-era folkie, then spent eight years singing country & western. 'I just love country music,' he explains — which of course explains nothing, least of all the two years he subsequently spent with a reggae band ... or his current electro-pop approach, which owes little to any of the above".[8]

His final recordings were country albums, beginning with The Seventh Lake (2003) and continuing with Blue Mountain (2004). In 2007, Rykodisc signed Hazard and released his album, Troubador.[2]

Death and family

Hazard died at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on August 5, 2008 after surgery for pancreatic cancer, with which he had recently been diagnosed. He was living with his wife and two sons near Old Forge, New York, at the time of his death. He also is survived by a daughter.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Klein, Michael (2008-08-06). "Robert Hazard, Philly rocker, dies at 59". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  2. ^ a b c Associated Press (2008-08-07). "Robert Hazard, musician and songwriter, dies at 59". USA Today.
  3. ^ Thornton, Linda R. (1984-05-09). "Cyndi Lauper Squeaks". The Miami Herald. p. 1B. The catchy, chanting Girls Just Want to Have Fun, which Lauper rewrote from its original version by Robert Hazard, was her first hit[...]
  4. ^ Kolson, Ann (1983-05-17). "Hazard Goes Cable". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D01.
  5. ^ Sasfy, Joe (1983-04-08). "Just a Routine Hazard". The Washington Post. p. WK29.
  6. ^ Tucker, Ken (1984-01-31). "A Local Hero Hoping For National Stardom". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E01.
  7. ^ "Artist Biography — Robert Hazard". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  8. ^ "Scan of Kurt Loder's Nov. 1981 Rolling Stone article, "Robert Hazard, Philly Hero"". Phillyrockers.com. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
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