SOCCER’S loss has been the music industry’s gain when it comes to the career of Robert Hart.

Born and raised in Bournemouth Robert’s sporting ability was good enough to persuade legendary Leeds United manager, Don Revie, to make a special trip to the southcoast to sign the 15-year-old for the Yorkshire club.

However, life as a lowly apprentice soon made Robert realise he ought to make more of his musical talents, and he returned home after just a month.

“To be honest I just couldn’t stand the way of life,” he admits, “and having to clean other people’s boots just wasn’t for me!”

Music had always been a big part of Robert’s life and his father sang on a semi-professional basis with various bands. The influence of greats such as Otis Redding and Sam Cook also helped shape Robert’s own singing style in his childhood days.

His passion for music soon led to him singing regulary and his song-writing ability ensured that he was destined for a life in the industry.

“I’ve always loved to sing and write songs,” claims Robert. “The two things seem to go hand in hand and I enjoy doing both equally.”

Robert’s ability as a singer and writer has earned him respect and acclaim throughout the industry and his diverse talents have seen him write and produce albums, front a legendary rock band, write the soundtrack for a major Hollywood movie and have triple platinum record success in Denmark and Sweden.

Chris Blackwell signed Robert to his Island Music record label in the 1980’s and teamed him with the great bassist and composer Bernard Edwards. The two men produced a formidable partnership and collaborated on several projects, including the soundtrack for the Whoopie Goldberg film, ‘The Burgler.’

“I enjoyed my time working with Bernard,” recalls Robert. “I was signed by Island after doing the usual thing and sending a few tapes off  to them. I think Chris Blackwell signed me initially as a songwriter, but I went on to sing in a band with Bernard called ‘The Distance’ and we were together for about five years.”

The Distance gained success in a worldwide market with particularly high sales in Japan. After leaving the band Robert moved to Atlantic Records as a solo artist, with Stewart Levine producing his first album, ‘Cries and Whispers.’

He then became the first English artist to be signed by Disney-owned Hollywood records, and worked with Russ Ballard on Robert’s self-titled album, ‘Robert Hart,’ which charted in more than 18 countries.

It was while touring following the release of the album that Robert was approached by Mick Ralphs of Bad Company and asked whether he would be interested in fronting the band. Ralphs had been eager to work with Robert for some time and for the next four years Robert toured extensively with them. He also co-wrote two of the band’s albums, ‘Company of Strangers’ and ‘Stories Told and Untold.’

Over the years Robert has also been involved in projects with Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, German superstar, Peter Maffay, members of Chic and Go West. The recent platinum success in Denmark and Sweden has come from his ‘Pop Stars’ record, ‘The Best Is Still Yet To Come,’ performed by the group IQ.

His association with Kenney Jones came via Boz Burrell, who played with Robert in Bad Company, and had first hand experience when it came to the quality of the singer’s voice.

“I’d always been an admirer of Kenney’s drumming,” says Robert. “The first time I played with him it was part of a fairly regular thing he did where he would get a  bunch of musicians together for charity gigs under the band name of ‘Kenney and the Coconuts.’

“Boz had sent him a CD of mine to let him hear me sing and he invited me to play in one of the gigs. We got on really well right from the start and when he said that he would like to form a new band it was something that really appealed to me.”

Kenney insists Robert is one of the best singers in the business. “He’s got one of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard,” he says. “I’ve been in bands with the likes of Steve Marriott, Rod Stewart, Roger Daltrey and Paul Rodgers and Robert has a voice right up there with them.”

Having teamed up with Kenney, Rick Wills and Gary Grainger, Robert is not only having a lot of fun as part of the new band, but is also convinced the four men have found a successful musical formula.

“There’s a tremendous creative flow in the band,” claims Robert. “Everyone contributes and we enjoy our music. We’re serous about what we do, but the great thing is that we’re able to have fun doing it and I think that comes across in what we play and the way we play it.”