Robert J. Bennett (June 27, 1938 – January 18, 2013) was an American singer, songwriter, choreographer, comedian, and musician, noted for being a member of the vocal group The Famous Flames from 1958 to 1968.
During his time in the group, he served as a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, comedian, emcee and dancer in the James Brown Revue.
The son of Robert and Inez Bennett, he was raised in Burlington's Rauhut Street in Alamance County, where it was called "Glencoe Road", and graduated from Jordan Sellars High School in 1957.
[1] According to his wife, Sandra, Bennett sang with the gospel group, the Harmonizing Five and traveled with them locally and to many East Coast and southern states from Maryland, DC and Virginia all the way to Florida.
[2] In the spring of 1958, Bennett left college for a summer break, finding work in New Jersey to earn funds for the following school year.
[3][4] While attending the performance, Bennett found out from Davis that one of the Famous Flames, Robert Gram, was leaving the show to get married and wasn't going to return.
During the time Bennett joined, James Brown had not yet established himself as a dominant force in music and was himself considered still just a member of the Famous Flames.
Under Brown's insistence, Byrd rejoined the group as a member just before they were set to open for Little Willie John at their first appearance at The Apollo Theater on April 24, 1959.
The group's explosive, high energy live performances across America rarely failed in bringing audiences to states of frenzy.
[6] The group also began touring globally, performing in venues such as The Olympia in Paris, Royal Albert Hall in London and also appeared on the UK music show, Ready Steady Go!
Show,[7][8] which was a 1964 All-Star concert film, taped at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on October 28 and 29, 1964 in which the group upstaged headliners The Rolling Stones; and 1965's Ski Party, a Frankie Avalon vehicle in which James Brown and The Flames were humorously cast as the "white bread" resort's all-black ski patrol.
The Famous Flames continued to back Brown until further arguments over monies and royalties and the stress of being on the road led to Lloyd Stallworth walking out first in 1966 .
Only Byrd participated in the recording with Brown, beginning a period in which the duo sung duets on several hits including "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine", "Soul Power", "Make It Funky", "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" and "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved".
[citation needed] Bennett, the sole surviving member of the Famous Flames at age 74, accepted on behalf of the group.
Everyone else opened for us: The O'Jays, Four Tops, Temptations, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Patti La Belle (and The Bluebelles).
[18] Bennett died at his home in Maryland on January 18, 2013, of complications of diabetes, less than one year after the group's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Ten days later, on January 28, 2013, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website issued an article paying tribute to him.