Michael Pedrick, Johns son, confirmed his fathers death toRolling Stone.
I didnt think the song would be the first single from the album.
Its a ballad and I thought the company was crazy to release it.
Robert John circa 1970.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
John also worked as a background vocalist, singing on records by Al Kooper and later Smokey Robinson.
The company [Atlantic] didnt have enough faith to let me do an album, John toldRolling Stone.
Tobin had John come to California and live with him for several months while they worked on music.
During that period, John wrote Sad Eyes, fine-tuning it for several months until it was perfect.
Pedrick says John had four sons and grandsons.
He was a really great dad, Pedrick says.
