Roker first worked as a song-plugger. His first taste of chart success was provided by the theme music to children's TV programme The Adventures of Rupert Bear. The song "Rupert", co-written with Len Beadle and recorded by Beadle's wife Jackie Lee, made the UK Singles Chart in 1971.[4][5] He also wrote the theme for Inigo Pipkin (later renamed Pipkins).[6] Further success was attained when Roker met up with Lynsey Rubin (who was about to change her name to Lynsey de Paul). Together they penned "Storm in a Teacup" for The Fortunes,[7][8] which landed them a Top Ten hit single;[9] "When You've Gotta Go" which made the Dutch Tipparade (peak number 17) in late 1972,[10] as well as the lower reaches of the Australian Aria chart in 1973;[11] and also de Paul's third single, "All Night", which made the UK chart breakers listing in May 1973[8] and No. 17 on the Dutch Single Tip chart.[12] Together with de Paul, he also wrote "Taking It On" and "It's Been a Long Time", both recorded by the Young Generation on their 1973 album Give Me Love.[13]
Roker also began writing with De Paul's partner Barry Blue, (with whom he is often confused) notably on the song, "Do You Wanna Dance",[8] a Top Ten hit at the end of 1973,[14] as well as some album tracks. The three of them also wrote "Sugarloaf Hill" recorded by reggae artist Del Davis and released on the Trojan record label in 1972.[15] "Sugarloaf Hill" appeared as a track on the 2003 compilation CD Trojan Carnival Box Set.[16]
Moving from pop to a more soulful/dance vein, he was behind the Tina Charles hits "Love Bug" and "Dance Little Lady Dance".[8] His profile in the US benefited from Dionne Warwick recording one of his songs, "Do You Believe in Love at First Sight",[8] and this became the theme song of the film of the same name, starring Dan Aykroyd. "Up in a Puff of Smoke", also written by Roker and recorded by Polly Brown (aka Polly Browne, formerly of Pickettywitch),[17] was a Top 20 hit in America in the 1970s and charted in the UK.[18] Together with Gerry Shury, he wrote "Guilty", which was recorded both by The Pearls[19] and First Choice and was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
Working with Gerry Shury, they produced a record for former 1976 Eurovision British contestant Louisa Jane White. They produced the single, "Don't Stop" which they both composed. It was backed with a Van McCoy and Charles Kipps composition, "Don't Pity Me", released on Pye 7N 45661 in 1977.[21][22]
Roker together with Blue and Shury also wrote "Devil's Gun", a US and UK chart hit for C. J. & Company.[23][24]
It was the first record played by DJ Richie Kaczor at the opening night of Studio 54 on 26 April, 1977.[25] It was also featured on the soundtrack to The Get Down (Original Soundtrack From The Netflix Original Series).[26] The original version of the song was released in 1973 by Great Expectations.[27] Other versions of "Devil's Gun" were recorded and released by Inner Strength[28] and Blue himself, who released it as a single in 1975.[29]
In 1983, Roker resurfaced with Jan Pulsford and Phil Wigger as the songwriters of the UK's Eurovision Song Contest entry, "I'm Never Giving it Up".[30] It was recorded by another band called Sweet Dreams, which came in sixth in the song contest. That year his protégé group, Two Way (featuring actor Anthony Head), released a single "Face in the Window", penned by the same writers.[31]
