Born in Augusta, GA, Chuck Roberson,, a dynamic singer that sounds like a cross between Jackie Wilson and Tyrone Davis, and his family relocated to Madison, FL. Roberson began his musical career in the mid-'70s issuing several singles on the Albradella label, including such titles as "Love Affair," "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone," and "I Feel It Coming," which enjoyed regional success but failed to break through nationally. In the late '70s, Roberson relocated to Philadelphia in hopes of launching a disco career, but eventually returned back home in 1983. Things improved for Chuck with the release of two lps in the late '80s. "I Don't Think You Heard Me Yet" on Traction Records and "Lollypop Man" on Vision raised his profile. In 1991 he released an obscure LP on a Florida label called Soul Potion. Fortunately,  he was signed with Ecko Records in 1996 and has released a steady stream of quality soul blues discs with many hits.

Album Discography

"I Don't Think You Heard Me Yet" (Traction 1987)

*** Produced by James Bennett this LP introduced Roberson to a wider audience. The singles "Hit It And Git It" & "Good Thang Man" remain two of his most beloved recordings. Other highlights includes the stomping funk rollers "I Can't Leave Your Love Alone" & title track, plus a fantastic version of "You're Gonna Make Me Cry".

"Lolly Pop Man" (Vision 1988)

** 1/2 Here Chuck Roberson becomes the "Lollypop Man", which is his calling card- an energetic slice of soulful pop that pleads with the ladies that Chuck will be their "Lollypop Man"- obviously a nod to a certain sexual practice the ladies may enjoy. "Let's Do It All Over" is a strong slowie.

"The More We Are Together" (Soul Potion 1991)

** Chuck gets a touch of Bobby Brown-itis ("New Jack Swing") on this LP. Spirited performances of mostly mediocre songs. The small budget production and material is just not well suited to Mr. Roberson. The title cut, however, is a pleasant shuffling pop tune. The LP also contains a version of his masterpiece "Hurt Keeps Getting Stronger", which he later covered in superior fashion on "Meet Me Tonight".

 "Something Good For You" (Ecko 1996)

**** Debut disc on Ecko Records finally showcases Roberson's powerful vocals. His version of McKinley Mitchell's "The Town I Live In" is a tour-de-force fully showing off his raspy range. Chuck can sing blues too as evidenced by the cheeky "A Whiskey Glass And A Woman's Ass". Chuck claims those are his two weaknesses. The CD includes two x-rated bonus cuts ("Lollipop Man 2" & a dirty version of "Something Good For You")

 "Meet Me Tonight" (Ecko 1997)

**** Once again Chuck puts on a vocal clinic with remakes of  "Hurt Keeps Getting Stronger" & "I Was Born All Over". Roberson wrote "Hurt" and it's perhaps his best song. It's also one of the best vocal performances of his career showing great range and power- reminiscent of the great Jackie Wilson. Just listen to how he sinks his teeth into Deadric Malone and Johnny Copeland's "Born All Over" and see what I mean. Two more excellent updates appear via "Lollipop Man" & "Got To Have Your Love"- both superior to the originals. "Got To Have Your Love" dates back to his "disco period" and retains much of it's flavor and "Lollipop Man" is now his signature song. There's not a bad song in the bunch. This is probably the high water mark of his Ecko discography and one of the best albums of it's kind..

 "Love Power" (Ecko 1998)

**** More upbeat soul, blues and R & B. Here Chuck improves upon two songs previously released by the late Ollie Nightingale (the hit dancers "Booty Scoot" & "Make It Sweet"). Another great blues cut shows up ("You Ain't Cheatin' By The Rules") in which he rebukes his lover for giving more lovin' to the other man than him at home. Also the joyous title cut is pure ear candy.

 "Love Freak" (Ecko 2000)

*** Just ignore the joke of a cover because this is seriously good southern soul blues. The Tyrone Davis-inspired "I'll Even Blow Down There" shows just how determined the "Lollipop Man" is to please a woman. If that doesn't convince her try "Candy" where he uses a candy bar as a metaphor for similar purposes. The poignant "If You're Lucky Enough To Have A Good Woman" balances out the many cheating songs that appear on his albums. Two blues cuts this time in "You Ain't The Only One I'm Giving Some" & "She Made A Hoochie Man Out Of Me". Chuck handles blues as well as he handles soul. Plus he's both a "Love Freak" and a "Party Freak" on this same album according to the so-named songs. Topping this fun disc off  is the irresistible disco soul of "Back In The Day".

 "I'm Your Candy Man" (Ecko 2001)

*** If it ain't broke don't fix it as the saying goes. More upbeat dance soul & blues from a master of the genre. This one is a little nastier than the others with Chuck falling in love with a certain type of "actress" in the crass "Porno Star" and then reprising Charles Wilson's equally ribald "Love Seat 2001". Meanwhile, "Candy Man" has Chuck singing: "You'll melt in my mouth/not in my hands". Hey, I thought Carl Sims was the M & M Man?! Not just a "love freak" Chuck can be romantic too as on "Let's Set A Date". The blues is represented by "Down Home Blues Show", a complete rip of the ZZ Hill classic and toe-tapping southern soul appears via "I Hit The Jackpot" & "Check Up On My Good Thing". On the latter he says "I gotta check up on my good thing/I gotta cool it down/Keep old Jody from coming around". Johnnie Taylor would be proud.

 "Let's Party" (Ecko 2002)

*** 1/2 Living up to the album title, this 10-song platter serves up another dance smash with "Booty Bounce"- simply sugar for the ears. Chuck tried to teach his woman the "Booty Scoot" but she ended up creating  a new dance! All joking aside, "Stand Up America" is a patriotic post 9/11 plea for America to "stand up" and be proud. Two strong slowies are included in Ronnie Lovejoy's "Sho Wasn't Me" & "Youre Gonna Love Me", the latter a Jon Ward original that's a perfect vehicle for Chuck's soulful chops. Elsewhere Chuck himself co-wrote the blithe "Stroke Me Right", an energetic four minutes of goofiness. Deep Soul purists might balk at this kind of album but "Southern Soul", "Retro-Soul", whatever you may call it still reaches the soul- if not through the heart than maybe the feet (or booty!).

 "A Woman Wants A Freak" (Ecko 2003)

*** Album number 7 and final album for Ecko Records continues the successful formula of mostly programmed party soul music. "Turn It Loose" & "Chuck Strut" were the minor hits here. Amazingly after 7 albums the Ecko/Chuck Roberson formula never got tiring.

 "Expressions Of Yesterday" (Cruise On 2005)

***** When I hear Chuck Roberson sing I hear Jackie Wilson and bit of Tyrone Davis. Roberson has a powerful voice- with huge range, able to hit operatic highs and raspy lows. After releasing 7 quality albums of party soul blues on Ecko Records we now have the independent "Expressions Of Yesterday" and it's his best. I suspect this is material that was recorded in the late 80s (8 or 9 tracks  remixed and remastered from his LP-only "Lolly Pop Man" & "I Don't Think You Heard Me Yet" albums) because the production is slightly dated at times but actually bodes just fine in the Southern Soul circuit. This 13-song gem includes his signature songs "Lollipop Man" (with different lyrics) and "Hit It And Git It"- both written by Roberson, plus the excellent upbeat dancers "Good Thing Man", "Let's Stay Together" & "I Can't Leave Your Love Alone" and slower soul wailers like "Your Gonna Make Me Cry" & "I Wanna Make Love Tonight". Nearly every song is Grade A which makes this sound like a "best of"-type CD. You gotta discover Chuck Roberson.