Robbin Thompson, Singer-songwriter, died at 66

  Dead Famous

Robbin Thompson, born on June 16, 1949 and passed away October 9, 2015 of cancer.

Robbin an American singer-songwriter based in Richmond, Virginia.

Since 1976 he has recorded several albums which have featured guest appearances by, among others, Melissa Manchester, Steve Cropper, Waddy Wachtel, Bruce Hornsby and Ellen McIlwaine.

Robbin was also a member of an early Bruce Springsteen band, Steel Mill, and has co-written songs with Timothy B. Schmit, Phil Vassar and Butch Taylor and Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band.

He has twice won the American Song Festival and in 1980 had a minor national hit with “Brite Eyes”.

Robbin has also written songs which have featured on the soundtracks of Gleaming the Cube and The Fighting Temptations.

His song, “Sweet Virginia Breeze”, together with “Our Great Virginia”, has also been nominated to replace “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” as the State song of Virginia.

Robbin was born near Boston, Massachusetts, however from aged seven he lived in Melbourne, Florida where he graduated from Melbourne High School.

Between 1963 and 1967 he was the lead singer and songwriter with several Florida-based bands including The Hanging Five, The Five Gents and The Tasmanians.

The latter band even released a couple of singles in 1966.

In 1968 he formed Transcontinental Mercy Flight before moving to Richmond, Virginia, initially to attend Virginia Commonwealth University.

While at VCU he formed Mercy Flight in early 1969.


 

Robbin Thompson died at age 66 on October 9, 2015.