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Roland Kent LaVoie—known to millions simply by his stage name, Lobo—became one of the defining soft rock singer-songwriters of the early 1970s with timeless hits like "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" and "I'd Love You to Want Me." Long before reaching international fame, his musical roots were shaped by a large family dynamic in Florida and an early passion for stringed instruments.
Roland Kent LaVoie was born on July 31, 1943, in Tallahassee, Florida. He was raised in a large family as one of seven children. Following his parents' divorce, the family relocated to Winter Haven, Florida, where LaVoie was raised primarily by his mother.
Music was present in his upbringing from an early age through his father, who worked as a guitar player in a big band. This musical background at home provided the foundational environment for LaVoie's developing creative instincts.
Growing up in Winter Haven, LaVoie attended Winter Haven High School, graduating in 1961. Inspired in part by his father's profession as a guitarist, LaVoie became self-taught on the guitar as a teenager and began crafting his own original songs during high school.
His entry into performing came around the age of 17:
The Rumours (1961): LaVoie joined his first local band, The Rumours, in Winter Haven. The group notably included future music luminaries Gram Parsons and Jim Stafford. Playing in local venues helped LaVoie hone his skills as a guitarist and vocalist.
The Sugar Beats & Phil Gernhard (1964): While attending college at the University of South Florida, he joined The Sugar Beats. During this time, he met producer Phil Gernhard and recorded a regional hit cover of Johnny Rivers' "What Am I Doing Here?"
Early Ensembles: Throughout the 1960s, LaVoie continued performing with several regional bands, including US Male, The Uglies, and Me and the Other Guys.
After years of playing in local and regional bands, LaVoie adopted the stage moniker Lobo (Spanish for "wolf") in 1971. Teaming up again with producer Phil Gernhard at Big Tree Records, he released his debut solo single, "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo." The song became a massive success, reaching the Top 5 in the United States and launching his career as a solo artist.
