Rockin' Robin Recounts a Life Extraordinaire
By Mary H. Chin

The age-old adage “the more things change, the more they remain the same” is quite apropos to the music industry. Did you come of age with Saturday night hops, mosh-pits, or disco fever? Whether your exposure to the newest hit came from American Bandstand, MTV, or iPod downloads, every decade lays claim to its own rock stars and teen idols. If you venture into Dr. Robin Luke’s office, take note of the memorabilia – a guitar in the corner, an album on the bookcase, and a distinguished array of autographed nostalgia. Any student meeting with Dr. Luke has no doubt heard rumors that yes, he was a rock star. Time-trip to the beginnings of rock ‘n roll and discover how our own department head, Robin Luke, enjoyed the fame of being a teen idol and flip-sided to academia. 

The seeds of Luke’s rock stardom were planted early. “By age five, I was strumming every Disney song I knew on my plastic ukulele. My mother had finagled Perry Bechtel, a legendary guitarist, to take me on as a student. Bechtel insisted that I learn to read music and run scales, and I was fortunate to be trained in a classic system of instrumentation.”

      Luke busily signs autographs for a mob of teenage fans.

“My family was no stranger to the entertainment industry. My mother worked as a retoucher for Samuel Goldwyn Studios, and her father was head of their still photography department, taking photos of the stars. I remember being with Elvis on the set of Blue Hawaii, and my uncle, then head of Paramount Picture’s still department, was snapping those beautiful 8x10s of Elvis.”

But it was Luke’s father’s career that took the family all over the country. “My dad worked over forty years with Douglas Aircraft as a service rep, and consequently, we relocated every few years.” It was during his adolescent years living in pre-statehood Hawaii when his meteoric star ascended. Luke was typical of fifteen year-olds at the time – attending high school, surfing, and dreaming of rock ’n ’roll stardom. He enjoyed performing at the local variety shows, where he was discovered. His song, Susie Darlin’, soared in the local charts, and skyrocketed when it hit the mainland. With over two and a half million copies sold, Susie Darlin’ is recognized as a classic.

Luke recalls, “Singing started as a fun pastime, and then it suddenly exploded and I was thrown into the spotlight. We were somewhat isolated, living in Hawaii, and initially I was clueless to my national prominence. It was surreal and unreal at the same time. The music industry is fast-paced, fickle, and filled with temptation. At a young age I not only enjoyed the fame but was exposed to the seedy side of the business – the drugs, sex and alcohol, which is still prevalent today. I witnessed first-hand the backstage heroin use. Fortunately, due to great parents and good parenting, I had no inclination to experiment with the seamy side.”

Dr. Robin Luke (center) poses with Jerry Lewis (left) and Dean Martin (right).

Luke continues, “My parents knew the importance of education and I didn’t want to disappoint them. They basically had two rules: don’t embarrass them and get an education. So, I was determined from the onset to finish college. Music is a cut-throat, competitive arena. The industry saying, ‘You’re only as good as your last record’ rings true. The entrapment for young stars is to drop out and earn the big bucks. My music career was a deep and quick emergence into the business world. Stardom may fade, but education lasts. So, in the big scheme, I made the right decision to stay in school.”

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Marketing Department head Robert Luke shows his "other" side--those of his teen idol days as "Rockin Robin."

Juggling school and fame is challenging for any teen idol. “Looking back, I’m amazed at what my parents allowed me to do at such a young age. Traveling across country for TV appearances posed hurdles, especially when you had to return for high school classes. It was a time of slower prop-planes, when parental permission and stewardess supervision were required for teens traveling solo.”

As an undergraduate at Pepperdine University, Luke and rock-star friend, Rick Nelson, both enjoyed their recognition while contending with the groupies. Luke explains that, “playing shows to thousands of screaming fans had its perks and consequences. Rick and I were innovative in maintaining some normalcy. There were times we had to pay friends to sneak us into the house. Often, we went to the movies after midnight to avoid the crowds.”

Dr. Robin Luke (far right) pictured with Don Everly and wife with brother Phil Everly.

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