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Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Philly-raised musician / songwriter Robert Hazard dies at 59
Robert Hazard, the Philadelphia-raised musician and songwriter of hits such as Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," died yesterday, of complications from pancreatic cancer. Hazard's longtime friend and former manager Bill Eib confirmed the news for the Daily News's Chuck Darrow earlier today. Hazard would have been 60 on Aug. 21. Hazard had surgery in Boston last week related to his cancer. He had recently postponed tour dates due to his health.
Posted by Dan Gross @ 4:08 PM  Permalink | File Under: Breaking News | 12 comments
Comments   
Posted 04:22 PM, 08/06/2008
LJL
I saw Robert Hazard and the Heroes open up at JFK summer festival concert around 1981-82 for a bill that included Flock of Seagulls, Blondie, Elvis Costello and Genesis. That band was an integral part of the Philly rock/songwriting scene, following the A's and preceding The Hooters; a good time period for original Philly R&R. R.I.P. and I'm sure the escaltor is going up.
Posted 04:25 PM, 08/06/2008
shoeshineboy
I guess now we know where the "escalator of life" is heading.
Posted 04:31 PM, 08/06/2008
phr
I was at that JFK show too! He was a good guy.
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Posted 04:50 PM, 08/06/2008
rcruiess
A real loss to the Philly music scene.
Posted 06:52 PM, 08/06/2008
larrya1966
It was an honor to have met Robert. A true artist - he will be missed by anyone and everyone who knew him or his music.
Posted 07:59 PM, 08/06/2008
jowhit
Saw Robert a number of times in the 80's and most recently in the main line where he appeared & fronted his own band, singing some C&W, Folk and folk rock. One more thing,..he appeared in Bethlehem at the MusicFest last year and was told without a doubt the best of the festival. A nice guy who never forgot where he came from or the fans that came to see him play. Very nice man. jw
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Posted 07:08 AM, 08/07/2008
mick314
Was he buds with you, Larry, Alycia and Dawn ??
Posted 04:22 PM, 08/07/2008
rwolffd12
I remember hearing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" in a club in the city- way before it was ever released and saying to a buddy of mine- "You know, that is a really good song." I am glad he was able to gain from that song because he made so many people happy in the early 80s. There was nobody hotter in the Philly club scene than when he was at his peak. As he has gone up the Escalator of Life, he will be remembered fondly by his many, many fans!!!
Posted 09:49 PM, 08/07/2008
saratogacat2007
"Girls just want to have fun" was popular when I was in college,it really takes me back. I watched his clips of Elevator of Life today and couldn't believe that was him. I know Robert for his more recent music that he wrote, much of it from here in Upstate NY, in the Adirondack Mts. The "7th Lake" and "Blue Mt." CDs were among my favorites having lived here in the Adirondacks for a few years. Seeing him perform this music here in the place in which it was written about was special. "Pretty Little Thing" and "Blue Mt." are some of my favorites. Having met Robert, its interesting for me to see the early stuff vs.the artist he became. The music he has been writing and singing is much more his heart than his earlier work. Robert was a true talent and will be missed, by his fans, the Mts. of the Adirondacks, and most especially Susan and the boys.
12 comments
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