Robin Thicke
A soulful singer-songwriter who spent years in the background before his provocative mega-hit 'Blurred Lines' catapulted him to global, controversial fame.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American singer, songwriter, and record producer·Birthday: March 10·Generation X
Biography
Robin Thicke co-wrote and produced 'Blurred Lines' with Pharrell Williams, a disco-funk track that became one of the best-selling singles of all time in 2013. The son of actor Alan Thicke and actress Gloria Loring, he spent years writing and producing for artists like Christina Aguilera and Usher. His own early albums were smooth, blue-eyed soul affairs that earned a dedicated R&B audience. The song's success was shadowed by a high-profile copyright lawsuit and debates over its lyrics. A skilled pianist with a velvety voice, Thicke has navigated the music industry's shifts and personal challenges to continue making music on his own terms.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Robin was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Robin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Robin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His single 'Blurred Lines' spent 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and has sold over 14 million copies worldwide.
- Co-wrote and produced songs for major artists including Usher ('You Make Me Wanna...'), Christina Aguilera, and Nicki Minaj.
- His album 'The Evolution of Robin Thicke' (2006) went platinum, anchored by the hit single 'Lost Without U.'
- Nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2014, including Record of the Year for 'Blurred Lines.'
Did You Know?
He taught himself to play piano by ear as a child and began writing songs at age 12.
He is married to actress April Love Geary, and they have several children together.
He was a recurring guest judge on the television competition 'American Idol.'
His father, Alan Thicke, was a successful actor and television host best known for 'Growing Pains.'
“I just wanted to make a fun, summer record. I didn't know it was going to be so controversial.”
