Rod Lauren

Singer and actor Rod Lauren remains best remembered for his 1960 pop hit "If I Had a Girl." Born Roger Lawrence Strunk in Fresno, CA, on March 20, 1940, he grew up in nearby Tracy, playing trombone in his high school marching band. After graduation Strunk began singing in Fresno-area nightclubs with a backing group dubbed the Buddies. His traditional crooner approach contrasted sharply with prevailing rock & roll sensibilities, and in 1959 he signed to the RCA label, adopting the alias Rod Lauren. With his debut ballad, "If I Had a Girl," he scored his first and only Top 40 hi...