Louisiana-born Robert Mizzell spent his childhood in foster care and it was only after a move to Ireland as a 20-year-old, that he discovered his untapped talent for music. He joined Ryan Tubridy to speak about his life and how he became one of Ireland’s most popular country music stars.
Robert's mother suffered from the ‘baby blues’, as it was referred to in the 1970’s, and this impacted on her relationship with her son. Robert says that his relationship with his mother had always been different from his siblings because he always fought back. At just six months old, his mother broke his arm out of pure frustration.
"According to what my family has told me and reports came back, I was taken out of the house at six months old. She broke my arm out of frustration."
However, Robert has fond memories of his foster mother, Mama Kourtney who took him in when he was as young as six months old. He shared with Ryan that she a very vibrant woman, a strong Christian, comforting but there was no messing in her house. She was a small woman who disciplined all thirty of her foster children when needed, but Robert emphasised that there was a distinct difference between the punishment he would receive from her and his mother.
At the age of fifteen, when the abuse got too much, Robert eventually stood up to his mother when she punched him twice. He explained to Ryan that he lashed out and threw a punch back at her. Robert said that evidentially this moment drew ‘a line in the sand’ in their relationship, and now the two have a mutual respect for that boundary.
‘I had to draw the line in the sand, and she wasn’t allowed to cross it again… My mother was someone who would love you and abuse you in equal measures, and I couldn’t understand that.’
Despite this tumultuous relationship, both of Robert’s parents were quite musical and undoubtedly this is where he has inherited his musical talent.
‘My father was a great singer, very like a Johnny Cash style, and my mother was a great Patsy Cline style singer and what a marvellous voice she had.’
Robert admitted to Ryan that while he doesn’t like the politics of the music industry, he loves being on stage.
‘The main part I love is when I get on stage, Ryan. I am myself.’
Robert Mizzell presents Simply Country on RTÉ Radio 1, Saturdays, 10pm. To listen back to the full interview from The Ryan Tubridy Show, click here.
