Robbie Nevil

{{short description|American pop singer, songwriter, record producer and guitarist}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Robbie Nevil

| image =

| caption =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Robert S. Nevil

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1958|10|2}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| instrument = Vocals, guitar, keyboards

| genre = Pop, R&B, funk, dance

| occupation = Singer, songwriter

| years_active = As performer: 1986–1996
As songwriter/producer: 1983–present

| label = Manhattan Records

| website = [http://www.robbienevil.com/ Official website]

}}

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).{{cite web|last1=Demalon|first1=Tom|title=Artist Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/robbie-nevil-mn0000284667/biography|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=12 December 2020}}

Life and career

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.

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. His debut single "C'est la Vie" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100,{{cite web|title=Robbie Nevil Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography|url=https://www.musicvf.com/Robbie+Nevil.art|website=Music VF|access-date=12 December 2020}} 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. 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. 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. During this period, Nevil was also in discussions regarding becoming the lead singer of Yes following the departure of Jon Anderson.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30492578/|title=Yes: a weird return of '70s once-weres and '80s wanna-bes|first=Roger|last=Catlin|page=4|date=18 April 1991|newspaper=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription|access-date=11 April 2019}}[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/yes-prog-rock-billy-sherwood-1234939989/ "This Prog-Rock Wizard Has Kept Yes Alive for the Past 30 Years"] - article by Andy Greene in Rolling Stone, 14 January 2024

In 1991, Nevil's album Day 1 was released to fewer sales. 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.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0627413/awards|title=Robbie Nevil - Awards|publisher=IMDb|access-date=10 April 2017}}

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

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable"
scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Album ! scope="col" colspan="7"\| Peak chart positions
style="width:35px;"\|US {{cite magazine\|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - Billboard 200\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/tlp/\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=12 December 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519172236/https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/tlp/\|archive-date=May 19, 2022}} ! style="width:35px;"\|US R&B {{cite magazine\|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS \|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/blp/\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=12 December 2020}} ! style="width:35px;"\|AUS Peaks in Australia: All except noted: {{cite web\|title=Robbie Nevil - Australian Charts\|url=https://australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=robbie+nevil&cat=s\|website=Australiancharts.com\|access-date=12 December 2020}} "Somebody Like You": {{cite web\|url=https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2020/04/week-commencing-24-april-1989.html\|title=Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 24 April 1989\|date= April 24, 2020\|access-date=July 24, 2021}} "Partners in Crime" and Day 1 and "Just Like You" certification: {{cite Ryan\|page=201}} ! style="width:35px;"\|AUT {{cite web \|title=Discographie Robbie Nevil \|url=https://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Robbie+Nevil \|website=austriancharts.at \|access-date=14 November 2023}} ! style="width:35px;"\|NOR {{cite web \|title=Discography Robbie Nevil \|url=https://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Robbie+Nevil \|website=norwegiancharts.com \|access-date=14 November 2023}} ! style="width:35px;"\|SWE {{cite web \|title=Discography Robbie Nevil \|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Robbie+Nevil \|website=swedishcharts.com \|access-date=14 November 2023}} ! style="width:35px;"\|UK {{cite book\|first=David\|last=Roberts\|year=2006\|title=British Hit Singles & Albums\|edition=19th\|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited\|location=London\|isbn=1-904994-10-5\|page=390}}
1986 \| Robbie Nevil{{Efn\|Released in the UK as C'est la Vie.}} \| align=center \| 37 \| align=center \| 32 \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| 19 \| align=center \| 9 \| align=center \| 6 \| align=center \| 93
1988 \| A Place Like This \| align=center \| 118 \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| 30 \| align=center \| —
1991 \| Day 1 \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| 89 \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| —
colspan="12" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"\| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

class="wikitable"

scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

! scope="col" colspan="7"| Peak chart positions

style="width:35px;"|US
{{cite magazine|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - Billboard 200|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/tlp/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519172236/https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/tlp/|archive-date=May 19, 2022}}

! style="width:35px;"|US R&B
{{cite magazine|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/blp/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=12 December 2020}}

! style="width:35px;"|AUS
Peaks in Australia:

All except noted: {{cite web|title=Robbie Nevil - Australian Charts|url=https://australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=robbie+nevil&cat=s|website=Australiancharts.com|access-date=12 December 2020}}
"Somebody Like You": {{cite web|url=https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2020/04/week-commencing-24-april-1989.html|title=Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 24 April 1989|date= April 24, 2020|access-date=July 24, 2021}}
"Partners in Crime" and Day 1 and "Just Like You" certification: {{cite Ryan|page=201}}

! style="width:35px;"|AUT
{{cite web |title=Discographie Robbie Nevil |url=https://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Robbie+Nevil |website=austriancharts.at |access-date=14 November 2023}}

! style="width:35px;"|NOR
{{cite web |title=Discography Robbie Nevil |url=https://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Robbie+Nevil |website=norwegiancharts.com |access-date=14 November 2023}}

! style="width:35px;"|SWE
{{cite web |title=Discography Robbie Nevil |url=https://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Robbie+Nevil |website=swedishcharts.com |access-date=14 November 2023}}

! style="width:35px;"|UK
{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=390}}

1986

| Robbie Nevil{{Efn|Released in the UK as C'est la Vie.}}

| align=center | 37

| align=center | 32

| align=center | —

| align=center | 19

| align=center | 9

| align=center | 6

| align=center | 93

1988

| A Place Like This

| align=center | 118

| align=center | —

| align=center | 30

| align=center | —

1991

| Day 1

| align=center | —

| align=center | 89

| align=center | —

colspan="12" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

=Compilation albums=

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

=Singles=

class="wikitable"
scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Song ! scope="col" colspan="10"\| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Album
style="width:35px;"\|US {{cite magazine\|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - Hot 100\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/hsi/\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=12 December 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117233804/https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/hsi/\|archive-date=November 17, 2021}} ! style="width:35px;"\|US Dance {{cite magazine\|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - DANCE BLUB SONGS\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/dsi/\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=12 December 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117223107/https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/dsi/\|archive-date=November 17, 2021}} ! style="width:35px;"\|US R&B {{cite magazine\|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/bsi/\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=12 December 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118040744/https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/bsi/\|archive-date=November 18, 2021}} ! style="width:35px;"\|AUS ! style="width:35px;"\|AUT ! style="width:35px;"\|CAN {{cite book\|author=Nanda Lwin\|year=1999\|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide\|publisher=Music Data Canada\|isbn=9781896594132}} ! style="width:35px;"\|NOR ! style="width:35px;"\|NZ {{cite web\|title=Robbie Nevil - New Zealand Charts \|url=https://charts.nz/search.asp?search=robbie+nevil&cat=s\|website=Charts.org.nz\|access-date=12 December 2020}} ! style="width:35px;"\|SWE ! style="width:35px;"\|UK {{cite web\|title=ROBBIE NEVIL - full Official Chart History\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23804/robbie-nevil/\|website=Official Charts Company\|access-date=12 December 2020}}
1986 \| "C'est la Vie" \| align=center \| 2 \| align=center \| 1 \| align=center \| 7 \| align=center \| 4 \| align=center \| 4 \| align=center \| 1 \| align=center \| 4 \| align=center \| 2 \| align=center \| 2 \| align=center \| 3 \| MC: Gold{{cite web\|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=C%27est+la+Vie%20Robbie+Nevil\|title=Gold/Platinum\|website=Music Canada\|date=April 13, 1987 \|access-date=September 5, 2022}} \| rowspan="3"\| Robbie Nevil
rowspan="2"\| 1987 \| "Dominoes" \| align=center \| 14 \| align=center \| 22 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 38 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 26 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 38 \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| 26 \|
"Wot's It to Ya" \| align=center \| 10 \| align=center \| 10 \| align=center \| 69 \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 24 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 37 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 43 \|
1988 \| "Back on Holiday" \| align=center \| 34 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 52 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| \| rowspan="3"\| A Place Like This
rowspan="2"\| 1989 \| "Somebody Like You" \| align=center \| 63 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 176 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \|
"Getting Better" \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| — \|
rowspan="2"\| 1991 \| "Just Like You" \| align=center \| 25 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 4 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 30{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.1612&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.1612.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.1612\|title=RPM 100 Hit Tracks – August 31, 1991\|magazine=RPM\|publisher=Library and Archives Canada\|access-date=January 14, 2021}} \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| ARIA: Gold \| rowspan="3"\| Day 1
"For Your Mind" \| align=center \| 86 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| 93 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \|
1992 \| "Partners in Crime" \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| — \| align=center \| 62 \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \|
1996 \| "I'll Be There for You" (duet with Seiko Matsuda) \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| ― \| align=center \| — \| \| {{N/A}}
colspan="14" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"\| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

class="wikitable"

scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Song

! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

style="width:35px;"|US
{{cite magazine|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - Hot 100|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/hsi/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117233804/https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/hsi/|archive-date=November 17, 2021}}

! style="width:35px;"|US Dance
{{cite magazine|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - DANCE BLUB SONGS|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/dsi/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117223107/https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/dsi/|archive-date=November 17, 2021}}

! style="width:35px;"|US R&B
{{cite magazine|title=Robbie Nevil: Chart History - HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/bsi/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118040744/https://www.billboard.com/artist/robbie-nevil/chart-history/bsi/|archive-date=November 18, 2021}}

! style="width:35px;"|AUS

! style="width:35px;"|AUT

! style="width:35px;"|CAN
{{cite book|author=Nanda Lwin|year=1999|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide|publisher=Music Data Canada|isbn=9781896594132}}

! style="width:35px;"|NOR

! style="width:35px;"|NZ
{{cite web|title=Robbie Nevil - New Zealand Charts |url=https://charts.nz/search.asp?search=robbie+nevil&cat=s|website=Charts.org.nz|access-date=12 December 2020}}

! style="width:35px;"|SWE

! style="width:35px;"|UK
{{cite web|title=ROBBIE NEVIL - full Official Chart History|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23804/robbie-nevil/|website=Official Charts Company|access-date=12 December 2020}}

1986

| "C'est la Vie"

| align=center | 2

| align=center | 1

| align=center | 7

| align=center | 4

| align=center | 1

| align=center | 4

| align=center | 2

| align=center | 3

|

MC: Gold{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=C%27est+la+Vie%20Robbie+Nevil|title=Gold/Platinum|website=Music Canada|date=April 13, 1987 |access-date=September 5, 2022}}

| rowspan="3"| Robbie Nevil

rowspan="2"| 1987

| "Dominoes"

| align=center | 14

| align=center | 22

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 38

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 26

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 38

| align=center | —

| align=center | 26

|

"Wot's It to Ya"

| align=center | 10

| align=center | 69

| align=center | —

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 24

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 37

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 43

|

1988

| "Back on Holiday"

| align=center | 34

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 52

| align=center | ―

|

| rowspan="3"| A Place Like This

rowspan="2"| 1989

| "Somebody Like You"

| align=center | 63

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 176

| align=center | ―

|

"Getting Better"

| align=center | ―

| align=center | —

|

rowspan="2"| 1991

| "Just Like You"

| align=center | 25

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 4

| align=center | ―

| align=center | 30{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.1612&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.1612.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.1612|title=RPM 100 Hit Tracks – August 31, 1991|magazine=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=January 14, 2021}}

| align=center | ―

|