Austin Roberts (singer)

Roberts was born on September 19, 1945 in Newport News, Virginia. As the lead singer of Arkade, he had two Billboard Hot 100 hits in 1970-71, including the easy listening crossover, "The Morning of Our Lives", which became the Bridal Fair theme, later a Top 15 Adult Contemporary hit, and "Sing Out the Love (In My Heart)", which reached #99 on the Hot 100.

Roberts' voice is easily recognizable as the singer of the theme song (and most used version) to the second season of the animated series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! as well as the season 2 "chase songs," many of which he also composed.

In 1972 he sang the hit "Something's Wrong With Me", written by Danny Janssen and Bobby Hart, which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.[2] "Keep on Singing", later a #15 single for Helen Reddy on 27 April 1974, was another important hit for Roberts, reaching #50 on the Hot 100 on 17 March 1973.[2]

"Rocky" brought his greatest success, reaching #9 on the Hot 100 on 11 October 1975.[2] The track also reached #22 in the UK in November 1975, which to date is Roberts' only chart appearance in the UK.[3]

Roberts and Hart later wrote the song "Over You" for the 1983 film, Tender Mercies. "Over You" was nominated for the 1984 Academy Award for Best Original Song, as well as the Golden Globe nomination for Best Song in a Motion Picture.

In 1988, Roberts wrote the American Gymnastics Team's theme song for the Olympics, "When You Put Your Heart in It". It subsequently became a Top 20 Adult Contemporary hit for Kenny Rogers.

In 1999, Busch Gardens commissioned Roberts to write the opening song for their Williamsburg Extravaganza. Roberts has written a number of songs for soap operas, as well as many more for films.

In addition to his success on the charts, Roberts also has experience with the stage. He has written the music and lyrics for two musicals, Rachinoff and Damon's Song. Rachinoff, starring Rob Marshall (the future director and choreographer of Chicago), was performed at Carnegie Mellon in 1981. It was nominated for an ACE Award (Cable Emmy). Damon's Song, starring three Tony Award winners, was performed at Pennsylvania Stage Co. in 1979.

As a songwriter, Roberts also had #1 single successes with country singer Reba McEntire (Annie Get Your Gun) and singer Gary Morris (Les Misérables).

Roberts has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, two of which he won ("I.O.U" by Lee Greenwood and "Chance of a Lifetime" by Take 6).

He also won a German award (for "Mission of Love"), four Canadian awards (for "He Would Be Sixteen" by Michelle Wright, as well as the 1993 CCMA Single of the Year), a CMA Award, an ACM Award, a Music City News Award, two NSAI Awards, and numerous ASCAP and SESAC Awards for airplay. Roberts has also been nominated for an additional CMA Award and ACM Award.