Howard Roberts (October 2, 1929 – June 28, 1992) was an American jazz guita… Read Full Bio ↴Howard Roberts (October 2, 1929 – June 28, 1992) was an American jazz guitarist, educator and session musician.

Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and began playing guitar at the age of 8. By the time he was 15 he was playing professionally locally.
In 1950 he moved to Los Angeles. There, with the assistance of Jack Marshall, he began playing with musicians including Bobby Troup, Chico Hamilton and Barney Kessel. In about 1956, Bobby Troup signed him to Verve Records as a solo artist. Around that time he decided to concentrate on recording, both as a solo artist and session musician, a direction he would continue until the early 1970s.
Roberts played rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass and mandolin, in the studio and for television and movie projects, including lead guitar on the theme from The Twilight Zone, as well as the classic guitar themes in The Munsters, Bonanza, The Brady Bunch, Green Acres, Get Smart, Batman, Beverly Hillbillies, Andy Griffith, Peter Gunn, Johnny Quest, Gidget, Mannix, Lost in Space, Dragnet, Wild Wild West, Mission Impossible, The Odd Couple, and rhythm guitar on the theme from I Dream of Jeannie.
Artists Roberts backed include Georgie Auld, Peggy Lee (Fever), Eddie Cochran (Sittin In The Balcony), Bobby Day (Rockin Robin), Jody Reynolds (Endless Sleep), Shelley Fabares (Johnny Angel), Dean Martin (Houston), The Monkees, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, and The Electric Prunes.
In 1961, Roberts designed a signature guitar which was originally produced by Epiphone. The guitar was a modified Gibson ES-175 (Epiphone is owned by Gibson and during this period Epiphone guitars were manufactured in the same factory as Gibson guitars in Kalamazoo, Michigan), with a round sound hole and a single pickup. A redesigned version was later produced by Gibson. The Howard Roberts signature was borne by two other models made by Gibson: the Howard Roberts Custom and the Howard Roberts Fusion III.
In 1963, Roberts recorded Color Him Funky and H.R. Is A Dirty Guitar Player, his first two albums after signing with Capitol. Produced by Jack Marshall, they both feature the same quartet with Roberts (guitar), Chuck Berghofer (bass), Earl Palmer (drums) and Paul Bryant alternating with Burkley Kendrix on organ. Both albums were released on a single CD under the title Dirty & Funky on Randy Bachman's label Guitarchives in 1998. In all, he recorded nine albums with Capitol before signing with ABC Records/Impulse! Records.
From the late 1960s, Roberts began to focus on teaching rather than recording. He traveled around the country giving guitar seminars, and wrote several instructional books. For some years he also wrote an acclaimed column called "Jazz Improvisation" for Guitar Player magazine. Roberts developed accelerated learning concepts and techniques, which led to the founding of Playback Music Publishing and the Guitar Institute of Technology. As a co-founder of GIT, now known as the Musicians Institute, Roberts' philosophy remains an integral part of the curriculum.
Roberts died of prostate cancer in Seattle, Washington on June 28, 1992. His wife Patty, also active in musical education, continued in this field after his death.
Howard inspired the opening of Roberts Music Institute in Seattle, Washington, which is currently owned by his son, Jay Roberts.

Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Howard Roberts Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're just too good to be true
I can't take my eyes off you
You'd be like heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off you

Pardon the way that I stare
There's nothing else to compare
The sight of you leaves me weak
There are no words left to speak
But if you feel like I feel
Please let me know that is real
You're just too good to be true
I can't take my eyes off you

I need you baby
And if it's quite all right
I need you baby
And if its quite alright
I need you baby
To warm the lonely nights
I love you baby
Trust in me when I say its okay

Oh pretty baby
Don't bring me down I pray
Oh pretty baby
Now that I've found you stay
And let me love you, baby
Let me love you

You're just too good to be true
I can't take my eyes off you
You'd be like heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off You

I need you baby
And if it's quite all right
I need you baby
To warm the lonely nights
I love you baby
Now trust in me when I say its okay

Oh pretty baby
Don't bring me down I pray
Oh pretty baby
Now that I've found you stay

And let me love you, baby
Let me love you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Howard Roberts's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" are a declaration of love and admiration for someone who is seen as too good to be true. The singer is captivated by the person's beauty and presence, and he feels weak when he sees them. He wants to hold them and be with them, and he expresses that he needs them in his life. He also acknowledges that he is staring and that there's nothing else he can compare them to.

The chorus of the song repeats the title line, emphasizing how infatuated the singer is with the person he's singing to. He believes that love has arrived and is grateful for it, thanking God for bringing this person into his life.

The bridge of the song focuses on the singer's need for the person he's singing to. He's asking for their trust and letting them know that it's okay to love him back. The song ends with a plea for the person to stay and let him love them.

Overall, the lyrics of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" convey a deep sense of love and admiration for someone who is seen as almost too perfect to be real. The singer is captivated and in awe of this person, and he wants nothing more than to be with them and love them.

Line by Line Meaning

You're just too good to be true
You are amazing beyond belief

I can't take my eyes off you
I cannot stop looking at you

You'd be like heaven to touch
Touching you is like a heavenly experience

I wanna hold you so much
I want to hold you tightly and never let go

At long last love has arrived
Finally, love has come to me

And I thank God I'm alive
I am grateful to be alive and experience this love

Pardon the way that I stare
I apologize for staring, but I cannot help it

There's nothing else to compare
There is nothing else that can compare to you

The sight of you leaves me weak
I am left powerless when I see you

There are no words left to speak
I am without words when I see you

But if you feel like I feel
If you feel the same way I do