Robert Plant

August 20, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Robert Anthony Plant was born on August 20, 1948, in West Bromwich, England. He is a well-known singer and songwriter. From 1968 to 1980, he was the lead singer and lyricist of the famous rock band, Led Zeppelin. As a child, he was inspired by several musicians. His strong vocal range landed him a position in the rock band, the Yardbirds, known as Led Zeppelin today. He wrote some songs for this band, showcasing his songwriting talent. One of the band’s albums made it to the Grammy Hall of Fame. With his talent, he can roll with the team as well as solo without fear of failure.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Robert Anthony Plant

Nickname:

Percy

Birth date:

August 20, 1948

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Leo

Height:

6' 1.2"

Relationship Status:

In a relationship

Net Worth:

$200 million

Background

Robert Anthony Plant, better known as Robert Plant, was born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England, to Robert. C. Plant, an engineer with the Royal Air Force, and his Romani wife, Annie Celia Plant. He has a younger sister, Allison. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School for Boys in Stourbridge and was a fan of Willie Dixon and Robert Johnson. It was his passion for the blues that inspired him to get a deeper understanding of music while playing with different bands. While trying to find his feet in the industry, he worked at Wimpy as a construction worker and at Woolworths. It was through the audition for the song, ‘Somebody To Love,’ by Jefferson Airplane, that he entered his reign and became the Yardbirds’ new lead singer. The band released two self-titled albums in 1969. The first album was not admired by critics but was commercially favored, while the second one was a hit, earning the band its first Grammy nomination. He has released 11 studio albums, including “Pictures at Eleven,” “Manic Nirvana,” “Fate of Nations,” and “Carry Fire.” Apart from Led Zeppelin, he has been part of several other bands as well, including Priory of Brian, Band of Joy, and Sensational Space Shifters. In 2007, he collaborated with Alison Krauss, and they released a duet album titled “Raising Sand.”

He came in at number 15 on the editors’ list of the Top 100 Singers of All Time, compiled by “Rolling Stone” magazine in 2008. Readers of “Rolling Stone” selected him as the Best Lead Singer Ever in 2011. He was dubbed the Greatest Metal Vocalist of All Time by “Hit Parader” magazine in 2006. He won the title of The Greatest Voice in Rock in a “Planet Rock” poll that year.

He was married to Maureen Wilson for 15 years before they divorced. They had a daughter, Carmen Jane, and two sons, Karac Pendragon and Logan Romero. In 1977, at the age of five, Karac passed away from a stomach virus, and Plant considered leaving Led Zeppelin. In 1991, he had a son named Jesse Lee, with Wilson’s sister, Shirley.

Career timeline

1968

He Begins His Career

Terry Reid suggests him to Jimmy Page as the new lead singer for the Yardbirds.

1977

His Greatest Loss

His five-year-old son dies, which devastates him so much that he considers giving up his career.

1999

His Band’s Grammy Nomination

The band’s album sells more than 12 million copies, earns 12x Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, and earns the band its first Grammy nomination.

2005

He Wins a Grammy

As a former member of Led Zeppelin, along with Page and John Paul Jones, he receives the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

2007

His Album is a Hit

His duet album, "Raising Sand," with Krauss, wins the Album of the Year award at the 51st Grammy Awards.

2012

He Joins a New Band

He leaves his former band, Band of Joy, to pursue a musical journey with the band Sensational Space Shifters.

Why We Love Robert Plant

He is goal-oriented and ambitious
He gave up being an accountant because he knew he desired something different, and music made him happier. He followed his passion regardless of his father’s desire for him to become an accountant. He took the time to understand music as a whole, and even if it meant going from band to band to find his feet in the industry, it was a journey he was prepared to take.
He is strong
He faced the death of his son, and although he had thoughts of leaving his band to mourn his son, he knew he had to keep going because the band needed him too. He searched for the strength inside of him to carry on. He grieved for his son as any parent would, but then he picked up his broken pieces and lived for his son, writing several songs in tribute.
He understands music
Despite having been involved with several bands and learning music from different points of view, his understanding of it plays out very well in the songs he delivers. He writes music from the heart, not only music that speaks to us but also himself. He wrote several tributes to his son, such as ‘I Believe,’ ‘Blue Train,’ and ‘All My Love.’ He writes music that heals, and his music evokes so many emotions within his listeners.

5 Surprising Facts

He was awarded for his beard
He received the Beard of the Year award from the Beard Liberation Front.
He was to be a chartered accountant
Influenced by his father, he trained to become a chartered accountant but soon gave that up.
He enjoyed soccer
At an early age, he enjoyed playing soccer in West Bromwich.
A dog inspired him
He would constantly see a specific dog hanging around at the recording studio, so he decided to title one of their songs, ‘Black Dog,’ inspired by that canine.
He was influenced by Elvis Presley
Presley was a major musical influence on him, and the two became friends in the 1970s.