Bobby Freeman Biography

Robert Thomas Freeman, known professionally as Bobby Freeman, was a prominent American rock, soul, and R&B singer, composer, and record producer. Born on June 13, 1940, in the San Francisco Bay Area, Freeman spent much of his early life in San Francisco, attending Mission High School. His music career began in his early teens when he joined the doo-wop group the Romancers, recording tracks like “House Cat” for Dootone Records in 1956. After the Romancers disbanded, Freeman formed another group, the Vocaleers.

Freeman's breakthrough came with his solo hit “Do You Want to Dance,” which he wrote and recorded as a demo. The song was picked up by Mortimer Palitz of Jubilee Records and released on its subsidiary, Josie Records, in 1958. It became a major success, reaching number 5 on the pop chart and number 2 on the R&B chart. The song's popularity endured, with artists like the Beach Boys, Bette Midler, and the Ramones later covering it.

Following the success of “Do You Want to Dance,” Freeman performed on American Bandstand and toured with notable artists such as Fats Domino, the Coasters, and Jackie Wilson. He released several follow-up hits with Josie Records, including “Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes” and “Need Your Love.” In 1960, Freeman joined King Records, where he enjoyed chart success with “Shimmy Shimmy.”

Freeman experienced a resurgence in 1964 with the hit “C’mon and Swim,” released by Autumn Records and co-written with Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone. The song reached the Top Ten, and Freeman continued to perform regularly, notably at the Condor Club in San Francisco. Although he recorded singles into the mid-1970s, he found limited commercial success in his later years but remained a beloved figure among northern soul enthusiasts in the UK. Bobby Freeman's contributions to music were celebrated at events like the Bay Area Music Awards, cementing his legacy as a key figure in the rock and R&B genres.