Birth date: May 21, 1941 Death date: Apr 21, 2021
Robert Bruce Whiteside, 79, of Madison, Tennessee, passed away Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at his home. Born May 21, 1941 in Summit, New Jersey, he was the son of the late Isaac Wallace Whiteside and Jean Thornton Smith. In his spa Read Obituary
Sorry to read of Mr. Whiteside's passing. One of my favorite songs of the 1960s was a tune called "Face the Autumn" by Family, which Bobby wrote and arranged. RIP.
It is with great sadness to learn of Bobby's passing. I had just talked to him a month or so ago, preparing to write a story on his Chicago music history. He was kind enough to send me a draft of his book "From the Wonder Years to the Golden Years." Certainly hope you will continue to make sure the book is published as every musician needs to read. What a story of his life, his music, the evolution of the industry (and some good restaurants).
Ken Voss
I first met Bobby when I was two or three years old in Park Ridge, Illinois, when our fathers both worked as field engineers for Bell Telephone. When I was ten years old my family moved to Summit, New Jersey, where Bobby, his sister, and parents lived. We were in different elementary schools, but in the same class in high school. I remember going with him to New York City so he could leave demo tapes in the offices of different record producers. I lost track of him after high school, but remember receiving his first 45 record which I recall made the threshold of pop charts in the earl 1960's. As you can see, Bobby's middle name is my first name, somehow that is not a coincidence. What a full and rewarding life!
Thank you Bobby Whiteside! You had enough faith in me to put me in a recording session, introduced me to the Girl singer, encouraged the band to hire me as their drummer, gave us a hit record which you wrote and produced, we became the group the family, and I've been married to the girl singer for 52 years now, you changed my career, and put me in a new direction which changed my entire life and I thank you so much for your friendship. May you rest in peace, and my condolences to your wonderful family
with my deepest and heartfelt sympathies for your passing I will always remain your friend and keep your memory till my final days. thanks so much
Louis Stephens and family
Bobby had a way of making everything fun. Work or play, Bobby was the coolest. Sessions, Pig Roasts, Bobby’s boat, hanging at his Universal “pad”. Bobby was always chill. No tension, no pressure, just Bobby gettin it done effortlessly and keepin everyone around him happy. How fortunate we all were to hang with Bobby. He was one of a kind and there will never be another. Bobby made all our lives better. So this is goodbye? Damn! Okay then, I love you Bobby. If there is another life after this, I wanna go out on your boat and catch some fish. Peace and Love to all the Whitesides.
So, so sorry Whiteside family! He changed my life's direction. I am so grateful!
