Rocky Roberts

Charles "Rocky" 'Roberts (August 23, 1940 – January 13, 2005) was an American naturalized Italian rhythm and blues singer.

Born in Tanner, Alabama, Roberts served in the United States Navy and was a Navy champion boxer. He first got interested in singing after listening to a country-oriented musician named Doug Fowlkes, whose band the Airdales (US-navy slang for Navy pilots) used to perform on the ship where Roberts was stationed. Fowlkes, impressed by Roberts' voice, eventually agreed to let him sit in with the band.

Roberts won a singing competition while on shore leave in Juan-les-Pins, France, and chose to stay in Europe after retiring from the Navy in 1962. The song's success led to a 1967 motion picture of the same title, starring Roberts. He appeared subsequently in several other Italian films.

He was known for always wearing dark sunglasses. Quentin Tarantino reused the recording as the opening theme for his 2012 film Django Unchained.

He died of lung cancer in Rome in 2005 at the age of 64.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1967 Non mi dire mai good-bye 1967 Stasera mi butto Himself 1967 Una ragazza tutta d'oro Himself 1968 I ragazzi di Bandiera Gialla Himself 1969 Il ragazzo che sorride Rocky (final film role)