Robert Owens, born August 17, 1961, in Ohio, United States, is an American songwriter, record producer, DJ, and singer who grew up singing in church before becoming a key figure in Chicago house music. In the mid-1980s, he joined forces with Larry Heard and Ron Wilson to form Fingers Inc., releasing the 1988 album Another Side and singles including "You're Mine" and "It's Over". Following the group's disbandment, Owens signed with 4th & B'way Records and released his debut solo studio album, Rhythms in Me, in 1990, alongside his notable collaboration "Tears" with Frankie Knuckles and Satoshi Tomiie. In 1992, his single "I'll Be Your Friend" reached Number 1 on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. He later collaborated with Tomiie and Cevin Fisher on Tomiie's 1999 album Full Lick, and featured on Photek's 2000 track "Mine to Give", which also reached Number 1 on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. His solo studio albums also included The Journey (1996), Night-Time Stories (2008), and Art (2010).
