RACE WITH THE WINDThe Robbs

The Robbs were an American 1960s pop/rock band from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. They are best known for being the house band on Dick Clark's mid-1960s show Where The Action Is. They are also known for placing the most singles on Billboard magazine's "Bubbling Under" chart (five as The Robbs, plus a final single as Cherokee) without ever once crossing over into the Billboard Hot 100. Race With the Wind reached #103 in the summer of 1966 but was a local hit on Chicago's WLS 890. The Robbs were a band of brothers starting with David Donaldson (Dee Robb - lead vocals and guitar), Robert Donaldson (Bruce Robb - guitar and vocals), and George Donaldson (Joe Robb - keyboards), along with the unrelated family friend Craig Krampf (Craig Robb - drums). The band was founded in the early 1960s without Krampf, and recorded as Dee Robb, Robby & the Robins, and Dee Robb & the Robins before settling on The Robbs and hiring Krampf in 1965. Spotted by Dick Clark, the band was signed to Mercury Records in 1966, and moved to California to appear as regular performers on Where The Action Is during late 1966 and early 1967, replacing Paul Revere and the Raiders. In 1971, the group changed their name to Cherokee, and re-emphazised their country rock influenced sound. In 1975, the three Robb Brothers (who had gone back to using their "Robbs" names) opened Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. This studio became one of America's premier recording facilities whose clients included The Go-Go's (including Jane Wiedlin, who also born in Oconomowoc), Jane's Addiction, Steely Dan, Aerosmith, Devo, Public Enemy, Lenny Kravitz, John Cougar, Al Green, Warren Zevon, Sneaker and many others. Through their association with Cherokee Studios, the Robb brothers have participated in the creation of more than 250 gold or platinum records. Under his real name, Robbs' drummer Craig Krampf also found success in the music industry, becoming a respected session drummer, songwriter and record producer. His drumming can be heard on the Kim Carnes #1 hit Bette Davis Eyes; as a writer, his biggest hit was Steve Perry's 1984 hit Oh Sherrie (a co-writer with three others); and as a producer, his most notable credit is his co-production of the first album by Melissa Etheridge. Dee Robb, The Robbs' vocalist and chief songwriter (and oldest sibling) died in 2008.