Robert John, Singer of 'Sad Eyes,' Dies at 79

The Grammy-nominated artist, known for his high-register voice and hits spanning decades, had been recovering from a stroke in recent years.

Robert John, born Robert John Pedrick Jr., passed away on February 24, 2025, with no immediate cause of death reported.
John's career began at age 12 with the single 'White Bucks and Saddle Shoes,' which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958.
He achieved his greatest success with the 1979 ballad 'Sad Eyes,' which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.
Other notable hits include his 1972 cover of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight,' which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and earlier tracks like 'If You Don’t Want My Love.'
John is survived by his four sons, several grandsons, his ex-wife Diane, and his partner Susan, with whom he spent the last decade of his life.