Bobby Rio / Demetrius

Lorain, 1962-3

Robert Tenorio moved to Lorain with his family as a child. He got into the singing business with the group called the Majestics. The Majestics were on the Gene Carroll show for a few weeks.

In late 1962, at the age fo 20, he resurfaced as a solo performer and recorded a couple records for the Lenox label out of New York. According to posted story (from the Decemeber 17, 1962 Lorain Journal), he went to New York and got a recording deal through willpower.

His first 45 was issued under the name Demetrius, and the second under the more familiar Bobby Rio. Both records have the teen pop sound that was in vogue for a couple years before those darn moptops from England spoiled the crooner fun. His name doesn't appear in the local papers for any live shows we can see, he was probably staying in New York and trying to get a breakthrough there.

His mother's obituary from 1991 says that she moved to New York in 1965, and that he was living with her at the time, so he likely never returned to Lorain. That's all we have on Bobby.

There was another Bobby Rio from the UK who had some records out, no connection between the two.

Majestics story from December 1960

Discography:
Hold Back Tomorrow / Your Tender Touch - Lenox 5558, 1962
Don Diddly / I Got You - Lenox 5569, 1963