Robin McNamara

Robin McNamara (May 5, 1947 – October 21, 2021) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician born in Newton, Massachusetts. His career spanned Broadway performance, recording, and songwriting across several decades.

McNamara's involvement in music began early. In 1963, while attending tenth grade, he organized a rock and roll band with classmates, naming the group Robin and the Hoods. With McNamara serving as lead vocalist, the band performed throughout the New England area.

In the late 1960s, McNamara moved to New York City, where he joined the cast of the landmark Broadway musical Hair. He appeared in the production beginning in 1968 and went on to play the lead role of Claude from 1969 to 1971. His time with Hair also led to a significant professional connection: in 1969, he was introduced to composer and record producer Jeff Barry, who signed him to the Steed record label.

Working alongside his songwriting partner Jim Cretecos, McNamara co-wrote the song "Lay a Little Lovin' on Me." Released in 1970, the track reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to number 6 in Canada. In Australia, the song peaked at number 49 in June of that year. A follow-up single, "Got to Believe in Love," reached number 62 in Canada. The absence of additional chart success led to McNamara being characterized as a one-hit wonder.

McNamara died on October 21, 2021, at the age of 74.