Lobo

(I was very excited to receive a kind email from Kent LeVoie who reviewed my post content and graciously permitted me to use images from his site)

The “Wolf”

After I returned from Vietnam and was stationed in Merced, California – I have to admit I got sort of hooked by the little ditties coming out of the radio by the singer known as “Lobo”.

Like many of the singers stepping forward in the early 1970’s, I was at first skeptical of this one – and many others. I just sort of wondered “What in the heck happened to our music!” while I was out of the country.

It was definitely a new era – the singer songwriters had arrived. It didn’t seem to resemble rock and roll, but time marches on and I had to pick my musical moments.

Lobo was born Roland Kent LaVoie in Tallahassee, Florida on July 31st, 1943. He grew up in a large family. At age 19 Kent would join what would have to later be considered a ‘super group’. The band was called the Rumors and included Jim Stafford, Gram Parsons and Jon Corneal who would follow Parsons into the International Submarine Band a bit later on. What a beginning! Parsons and Stafford had come from another local band called the Legends.

Legends Parsons and Stafford of the Rumors

Kent headed off for college in Florida and would form the Sugar Beats. They would record one single on the small Florida label Knight in 1965.

The Sugar Beats

From there Kent passed through many groups including “US Male” who recorded as, the “Uglies”, and “Me and the Other Guys” who were actually the artists on Lobo’s initial hit – “Me and You and A Dog Named Boo”.

Then, after a lapse of a few years, Roland would hook up with a past acquaintance from his days as a Sugar Beat, Phil Gernhard who produced their single on the Knight label in 1965. Phil had worked with Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs and the Royal Guardsmen.

Big Tree’s Phil Gernhard

The two teamed up and recorded a song for Laurie Records. Next, Roland would take on the name “Lobo” and would record his first song for Big Tree Records where Gernhard was working.

First time out on Big Tree put Lobo in the Big Time! “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo” hit the charts entering the Top Ten.

A nice string of hits would follow along with some long plays. “Me and You” put Big Tree on the map – their first charting single. Lobo would remain with Big Tree until mid 1975. A year and a half would pass with no recording activity and then he would sign with Warner Bros.

2001 Reunion – Stafford – Chambers – LaVoie

There would be no hits for Warner but then in 1979 Lobo would go to number 1 Adult Contemporary with “Where Were Your When I Was Falling In Love?” Things really slowed down until Lobo would migrate to Nashville where he ended up his career scoring a few moderately successful country songs. During his time in Nashville he started up his own label – “Lobo”.

In Lobo’s words: “In 1975 when I met my wife Susie it all became clear to me. We have been married for 39 years. She had three, I had one, so we had a mixed family of six. We have 5 grandchildren and had the joy of having three of them be a big part of our lives.”

Happy Couple – Susie and Kent

He would continue on recording occasionally and capitalizing on his popularity overseas but the days of the catchy little ditties was long gone.

Visit Lobo’s web site – click on image below

Lobo Discography

45 – The Sugar Beats – Knight – What Am I Doing Here b/w Have You Ever Had the Blues – 1965

45 – The Uglies – United American AP#45-1002 – It’s Gonna Be So Hard b/w This Guy Not Supposed To Cry – 1966

45 – Kent LaVoie – Laurie LR3526 – Happy Days In New York City b/w My Friend Is Here – 1969

45 – Big Tree -#BT 112 – Me And You And A Dog Named Boo b/w Walk Away From It All – #5 Hot 100 – Number 1 Adult Contemporary – April 1971

45 – Big Tree #BT 116 – She Didn’t Do Magic b/w I’m The Only One – Number 46 Hot 100 – Number 14 Adult Contemporary – June 1971

45 – Big Tree #BT 119 – California Kid And Reemo b/w A Little Different – Number 17 Adult Contemporary – Number 72 Hot 100 – Sept 1971

45 – Big Tree #BT 134 – The Albatross b/w We’ll Make It I Know We Will – Feb 1972

45 – Big Tree #141 – A Simple Man / Don’t Expect Me To Be Your Friend – Number 17 Adult Contemporary – Number 56 Hot 100 – March 1972

45 – Big Tree #147 – I’d Love You To Want Me / Am I True To Myself – Number 2 Hot 100 – Number 1 Adult Contemporary – Sept 1972

45 – Big Tree #BT 158 – Don’t Expect Me To Be Your Friend / A Big Red Kite – Number 8 Hot 100 – Number 1 Adult Contemporary – Dec 1972

45 – Big Tree #16,001 – It Sure Took A Long, Long Time / Running Dear – Number 27 Hot 100 – Number 3 Adult Contemporary – March 1973

45 – Big Tree #16,004 – How Can I Tell Her / Hope You’re Proud Of Me Girl – Number 22 Hot 100 – Number 4 Adult Contemporary – June 1973

45 – The New Seekers – Goodbye Is Just Another World – Number 36 UK Charts – June, 1973

45 – Big Tree #BT 16,012 – There Ain’t No Way / Love Me For What I Am – Number 68 Hot 100 Number 29 Adult Contemporary – Nov 1973

45 – Earl Richards – How Can I Tell Her – Number 85 Country – December, 1973

45 – Big Tree – BT 15001 – Standing at the End Of the Line b/w Stoney – April, 1974

45 – Big Tree #BT-15008 – Rings / I’m Only Sleeping – Number 43 Hot 100 – Number 8 Adult Contemporary – July 1974

45 – Big Tree #BT-16033 – Don’t Tell Me Goodnight / My Momma Had Soul – Number 27 Hot 100 – Number 2 Adult Contemporary – March 1975

45 – Big Tree #BT-16040 – Would I Still Have You / Morning Sun – Number 44 Adult Contemporary – July 1975

45 – Warner/Curb #WBS 8493 – Afterglow / Our Best Time – 1977

45 – Cristy Lane – Let Me Down Easy – Number 7 Country – August, 1977

45 – Warner/Curb #WBS 8537 – You Are All I Ever Need / Our Best Time – April 1978

45 – MCA/Curb #41065 – Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love / I Don’t Wanna Make Love Anymore – Number 1 Adult Contemporary – Number 23 Hot 100 – July 1979

45 – MCA/Curb #41152 – Holding On For Dear Love / Gus, The Dancing Dog – Number 75 Hot 100 – Number 13 Adult Contemporary – Dec 1979

45 – Elektra/Curb#E-47030 – With A Love Like Ours / I Can’t Believe You Anymore – Sept 1980

45 – Elektra/Curb #E-47099 – Fight Fire With Fire / I Can’t Believe You Anymore – Dec 1980

45 – Lobo #I – I Don’t Want To Want You / No One Will Ever Know – Nov 1981

45 – Lobo #IV – Come Looking For Me / I Don’t Want To Want You – Number 63 Country – March 1982

45 – The Wolfpack – Lobo #VI – Bull Smith Can’t Dance The Cotton Eyed Joe – Number 88 Country – April, 1982

45 – Narvel Felts – I’d Love You To Want Me – Number 58 Country – June, 1982

45 – Lobo #X – Living My Life Without You / Living My Life Without You – Number 88 Country – Aug 1982

45 – Sam Neely – The Party’s Over – Number 78 Country – 1983

45 – Robin Lee – Heart For A Heart – Number 81 Country – June, 1983

45 – John Wesley Ryles – She Took It Too Well – Number 78 Country – August, 1984

45 – Evergreen 1028 – I Don’t Want To Want You / Long Loving Night – Number 40 Country – 1985

45 – Evergreen #EV-1028 – Am I Going Crazy / I Don’t Want To Want You – Number 57 Country – March 1985

45 – Evergreen #EV-1033 – Paint The Town Blue (w/Robin Lee) / Angel In Your Arms(Robin Lee) – June 1985

LP – Big Tree – Introducing Lobo – Number 178 LP Charts – May, 1971

LP – Big Tree – Of A Simple Man – Number 37 LP Charts – 1972

LP – Big Tree – Introducing Lobo – Number 173 LP Charts – 1973

This is a reissue of Lobo’s debut LP – both charted