Two Fantastic Singles from The Founders' Bobbi Roberson

In the early ‘70s, The Founders were a family soul group — siblings Cheavoria, FD, and Roy took turns with the vocal duties. They released two singles. Both are fantastic. Both were overlooked at the time of release.

By 1973, the group looked to be standing still, and Cheavoria went solo. And in a big way, changing her name to Bobbi Roberson, she released ten hard-to-find Country singles in seven years. For the period, that makes a lot of sense, Country was sweeping the nation.

Singer-songwriter Tom T. Hall described the music's rising ubiquity, saying, “Country music is the hula hoop of today.”

The country music boom occurred during a tumultuous period for Americans. After decades of prosperity — for wealthy and middle-class whites — following World War II, the United States entered a new era of intense social, economic, and political uncertainty. Under the Nixon presidency, Americans were polarized by issues like the Vietnam War, second-wave feminism, affirmative action, our dependency on fossil fuels, and busing. At a time of such unease, many Americans began to find refuge in the imaginary and the signifiers of rusticity.

So, if you have a terrific voice, why not join in?

We’re delighted to offer two truly obscure — yet equally delightful — 45s from Bobbie on Bolivia Records. Bolivia was a label based in Brewton, Alabama, about an hour from Pensacola, Florida, where Cheavoria still lives.