Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA - Robert Hazard, a songwriter and musician from Philadelphia who wrote the 1983 Cyndi Lauper hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," died Tuesday. He was 59. Hazard died after a brief illness, his record label, Rykodisc, said in a statement. Hazard's wife, Susan, told The Philadelphia Inquirer her husband died unexpectedly after surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Hazard, born Robert Rimato, led the band Robert Hazard and the Heroes, a fixture in Philadelphia clubs through the mid-1980s. In his 1983 autobiography, he wrote that he got his big break in 1982 when music journalist Kurt Loder, who was in town to review a Rolling Stones concert, happened to stop into a bar where he was performing. His song "Escalator of Life" became a hit soon after. Recently, he has played country music with a band called The Hombres. His latest album, "Troubadour," was released in October. In recent years, Hazard and his wife ran an antique shop near their home in Old Forge, N.Y.
Robert was one of my early rock “Heroes” in the Philly new wave rock scene! RIP to a talented legend! Saw his shows live and he was the man!
Harry Alba
March 07, 2025 | WORCESTER, PA | Acquaintance
One of the great underrated rockers of the 80’s. Unique, easily identified stylepassion to spare! His first ep is beyond iconic and classic. “Chain Reaction”its own world of breathless power. I grew up down in north Delaware, worked at Bert’s. The connection between there and the West Chesterxscene was real and vital.
Tim Thompson
June 01, 2024 | Nantucket, MA | Acquaintance
