"If God could sing, he would sound like Robert Owens" – ID Magazine.
Robert Owens first DJ’ed with Chicago’s developing house scene in the mid 80’s, gaining notoriety by singing on a number of underground club tracks, and establishing a reputation as a man whose lyrics and intensely emotional vocals could breath life and soul into House Music. At just 20 Robert with partner Larry Heard was signed to Jack Trax as Fingers Inc. and the pair released a succession of tracks that even today remain dance floor classics (including "Mystery of Love", "Never No More Lonely", "Can You Feel It" and its very limited edition with vocal, and "The Path" showcasing Roberts beautiful church-honed vocals and heartfelt lyrical style.
"The Greatest Male voice in dance music" – Muzik
Robert has stayed true to his club roots pursuing two separate yet obviously connected paths; firstly an innovative and much in demand DJ, playing all over the world, spinning and singing live from the DJ booth across the UK, Europe, Japan and America. Secondly, as a solo artist composing lyrics and singing on a series of tracks that are dancefloor classics. These include the seminal "Tears" (1988 and re-released in 1999), Billboard Dance Sales No 1 "I’ll be your Friend" which propelled Robert into the mainstream and 1996’s "Ordinary People" (released on Roberts own label MUSICAL DIRECTIONS, the only independently released 12" to feature in M<uzik magazine’s Top 10 tracks of 1996). He also collaborated in 1998 with Mr C – "A thing Called Love" (No 3 Cool Cuts – Record Mirror). 1999 also saw Robert performing, as a vocalist and lyricist on Layo and Bushwacka’s highly acclaimed album on the track "Lowlife".
"The voice of house music. Owens is a rare gift" – Mixmag
In 1997 the re-released of "I’ll Be Your Friend" went into the UK National Charts at No. 25, and the release of "Love Will Find Its Way" (on MUSICAL DIRECTIONS), Robert was the first artist ever to have two tracks in Record Mirrors Cool Cuts Chart at #1 and #8 simultaneously. 2001 sees the release of Robert Owens’s and Photeks track "Mine to Give" (Science/Virgin Records), which has been the No. 1 Dance record in the Billboard Magazine end March – April 2001, reached the top of the Cool Cuts (Music Week), on week commencing 10 Jan. 2001 as No. 2 in the Club Charts (Music Week), is Muzik Magazine’s Feb. 2001 issue "Essential Single of the Month" Robert and is also their third biggest tune in Britain’s dancefloors this month – "A Tears for 2001….Robert Owens vocals are as compelling as ever" (Muzik). No. 44 in UK National Charts – 18 February 2001.
Look out for collaboration release with Victor Simonelli (Stellar Records), Block 16 (Nuphonic Records), London Elekricity and compilation album. Robert has assembled his own studio and has been concentrating on writing, producing and collaborating with musicians on material which reflects his desire to step outside of the restrictions traditionally placed upon house music artists; embracing his club roots whilst reaching beyond the dancefloor and illustrating his influences into an array of styles.
Quote by Jerry Boles
I was reading the brief history on Robert "ET" Owens. It is interesting to see someone I have known for years all over the net like me. Robert actually started spining records longing then most people will give him credit....right on the West Side of Chicago. We would leave the club late in the morning and Robert would jump right on the turntables and start mixing music. He would wake us up out of deep sleep after a long night of dancing at the US Studio "The Warehouse" with something he had just put together. He would say watch this...and then their was a drop beat in the music. It would make you just scream for more. I met Robert in 1979 or 80 somewhere around there....I know it was when an attempt on Ronald Regan's life, during that era. He walked into the Salon/Modeling School I was working at with the gold old man pants and blue scarf wrapped around his waist as if he was on his way to a dance contest. We became best known for our "latin hustle" on the dance floor. You could spin Robert like a top...he could spin on one leg all the way to the floor and then up on one leg. Everyone envy his style on the dance floor. I remembered when the word was on the street that he had teamed up with Larry Heard. It was the talk of the town...while I don't think he was cut a fair deal through the entire process...i thought it was great for him to extend himself abroad. It took me some time to finally uproof my self out of Chicago and now in Atlanta where I resides now. I spoke with him Recently and was overwhelmed to hear his voice. He is a Friend and have always been...I have always enjoyed his loyality and honestly. I used to tell him that we were cut from the same cloths...we had the same struggles.. I think the song "TEARS" say it all about his life and his struggles.