Bobby Goldsboro
January 18, 1941
1999 Inductee

Bobby Goldsboro's career has been a remarkable evolution. This multi-talented performer started out in the early sixties as a guitarist with the legendary Roy Orbison. During his three years with Orbison he traveled all over the world and even toured with the Beatles. Bobby was also the opening act for the Rolling Stones on their first U.S. tour!

In 1964, he went out on his own by recording the first of a string of hit records, "See the Funny Little Clown". Then, in 1968 he recorded the classic "Honey," which became the largest selling record in the world. His recordings of "Watchin' Scotty Grow," "Little Green Apples" and "With Pen In Hand" have also become classics.

The seventies brought his own nationally syndicated television show which ran for three successful seasons. During this time he became a much sought-after "regular" on the T.V. talk show circuit. Bobby then formed House of Gold Music which became on of the most successful music publishing companies in Nashville, publishing such songs as "Wind Beneath My "Wings" and "Behind Closed Doors."

Bobby Goldsboro, the songwriter, has received twenty-seven B.M.I. awards and his compositions have been recorded by such diverse artists as Aretha Franklin, John Denver, Paul Anka, Dolly Parton, Billy Vera, Dr. John, and Bette Midler. His compositions, "With Pen In Hand," and "Autumn of My Life," are members of B.M.I.'s exclusive "Million-airs Club," which contains only those songs which have been played on the air over one million times!

In the mid-eighties Bobby cut back on his live performing to devote more time to his first love - writing and producing children's stories. His first effort, "Easter Egg Mornin'," premiered as an animated Easter special in 1991 on the Disney Channel and was bought for world wide distribution.

Bobby not only wrote the story but composed, arranged and produced the music as well as voicing the starring role of Picasso "Speedy" Cottontail. The special, which teaches the importance of working together, quickly reached "gold" status in sales. The Disney Channel has since bought "Easter Egg Mornin'" exclusively until the year 2000!

The 1993 television season saw the hit CBS comedy "Evening Shade" premiere with a new theme song, written and performed by Bobby. The six-time Grammy nominee was also the new musical director of the show, composing new music for the series each week. At the close of the '93 season Bobby was awarded a B.M.I. award for "Evening Shade," a first for the series!

Goldsboro now has four animated videos and six best-selling children's books on the market, yet he has found the time to show his versatility by writing, orchestrating and performing the music for several best-selling audio books, among them William Petter Blatty's classic, "The Exorcist."

His new children's series, "The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon," debuted on P.B.S. in the spring of 1996. Bobby writes the scripts, writes and arranges all the music, plays all the instruments, and even does all the character voices. The show features animal characters with computer controlled mouth movements and that incredible Goldsboro music in what could well be the most unique children's show on television!