Robin Thicke’s upbringing was anything but ordinary, surrounded by stars and icons. During a recent appearance on the podcast “Getting Grilled with Curtis Stone,” the “Blurred Lines” singer, now 47, reflected on his unique childhood, heavily influenced by his mother, singer Gloria Loring, and his late father, Alan Thicke, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 69.
Alan Thicke, whom Robin described as a “multi-dimensional renaissance man,” was a notable figure in the entertainment industry. He was not only an actor, famously known for his role as Dr. Jason Seaver on the ’80s sitcom “Growing Pains,” but also a talented songwriter. Alan composed theme songs for iconic TV series such as “Diff’rent Strokes,” “The Facts of Life,” and the original “Wheel of Fortune” intro.
Host Curtis Stone remarked on Alan’s influence, calling him “America’s father,” to which Robin humorously corrected, “America’s Canadian father.” Robin fondly recalled their family trips to Canada every summer, where they enjoyed boating adventures.
Robin’s Canadian connections extended beyond his father. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who was very close to Alan, once babysat Robin while Alan was on a two-week trip to Russia. At that time, Gretzky was on the brink of being traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings, marking a significant period in his career.
Reflecting on his childhood, Robin described it as a “pretty wild time.” Despite the unconventional start, he followed in his parents’ footsteps into the entertainment industry. Robin shared that his parents’ artistic and accomplished nature inspired him to pursue a career in music. “I knew very early on that I wanted to sing, write songs, and perform,” he said.
Robin admired his father’s work ethic and creativity, recalling how Alan would write music late into the night after putting his kids to bed. “He loved staying creative and instilled in me that there’s always a new song to write, a new idea to come up with, a new TV show to pitch,” Robin reminisced.
Robin’s career took off with his debut album “A Beautiful World” in 2002. He later contributed to Lil Wayne’s “The Carter III” and Usher’s “Confessions” album, and wrote “Fall Again,” which was recorded by Michael Jackson. Alan was so proud of Robin’s achievements that he flew to New York City to celebrate with him.
Following Alan’s sudden death in 2016 from a ruptured aorta, Robin has continued to honor his father’s legacy. During a 2022 episode of “The Masked Singer,” Robin performed the “Growing Pains” theme song “As Long as We Got Each Other” as a tribute to Alan.
In 2021, Robin opened up about his song “That’s What Love Can Do,” the first track he wrote after Alan’s passing. “It’s about the passing of the torch from my father to me and the kind of man I want to be,” Robin explained. He recalled a friend of Alan’s saying, “A big tree has fallen,” which resonated with him deeply. “That’s what my dad was: the big tree. Now here I am, this medium-size tree, and I’ve got to grow my branches and protect everybody. Every day I try to make him proud of me,” Robin shared.
Robin’s childhood memories are filled with moments of being around sports legends and celebrities, thanks to his father’s connections. Alan Thicke was a prominent figure in the sports world, often seen with stars like Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan. He played a significant role in “The Trade,” which brought Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings, further cementing his influence in both the entertainment and sports industries.
Alan Thicke’s legacy lives on through Robin, who continues to draw inspiration from his father’s creativity and work ethic. Growing up with Alan Thicke and Wayne Gretzky has undoubtedly shaped Robin into the artist and person he is today.
