Rob Hyman | |
|---|---|
 Hyman performing withthe Hooters in 2022. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Andrew Hyman |
| Born | (1950-04-24)April 24, 1950 (age 74) Meriden, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Member of | The Hooters |
Robert Andrew Hyman (born April 24, 1950) is an American singer,songwriter,keyboard andaccordion player, producer, and arranger, best known for being a founding member of the rock bandthe Hooters.[1]
Hyman started takingpiano lessons at the age of four and grew up playing in local bands inMeriden, Connecticut, including The Trolls and the Pro-Teens.[2]
While attending theUniversity of Pennsylvania inPhiladelphia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree inbiology, Hyman met future bandmate and composing partnerEric Bazilian and producerRick Chertoff. In the late 1960s, Hyman and Chertoff, along with local singer David Kagan formed a band called Wax, who recorded an album in the early 1970s. They also released two albums under the group name of Baby Grand in the mid 1970's with Chertoff as the producer.[3][4]
Hyman andEric Bazilian formed The Hooters in 1980.[5] The band played its first show on July 4 of that year. They took the band's name from a nickname for themelodica,[6] a type of keyboard harmonica.[5] The Hooters first gained major commercial success in the United States in the mid-1980s due to heavy radio airplay andMTV rotation of several songs, including "All You Zombies", "Day by Day", "And We Danced" and "Where Do the Children Go".[5]
The band played at theLive Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia in 1985,[7] atA Conspiracy of Hope, a benefit concert on behalf ofAmnesty International, atGiants Stadium inEast Rutherford, New Jersey,[8] and atThe Wall Concert in Berlin in 1990.[9]
In 1995, The Hooters went on hiatus,[10] although Hyman and Bazilian would continue to collaborate on musical projects for other artists. Hyman reunited with The Hooters on headlining European summer tours in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
On May 11, 2004, The Hooters were presented with aLifetime Achievement Award from the Philadelphia Music Awards.[11]
In 1983, Hyman andCyndi Lauper wrote and sang theBillboard number one hit "Time After Time," which earned him aGrammy Award nomination forSong of the Year in 1985.[12][13] Hyman has collaborated withDar Williams onThe Beauty of the Rain andMy Better Self (2002 and 2005),[14] and withBette Midler.[15]
On November 17, 2000, Hyman was inducted into the Philadelphia Walk of Fame on theAvenue of the Arts.[16][17]
