1 ), ▁was ▁an ▁American ▁g ospel ▁music ian ▁and ▁leader ▁of ▁The ▁Fant astic ▁Vi ol ina ires ▁origin ating ▁from ▁Detroit , ▁Michigan ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 5 ▁until ▁his ▁death . ▁He ▁started ▁his ▁music ▁career , ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 5 , ▁with ▁the ▁release ▁of ▁Stand ▁by ▁Me ▁by ▁Check er ▁Records . ▁His ▁album , ▁The ▁P ink ▁T orn ado , ▁was ▁released ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁by ▁Atlanta ▁International ▁Records , ▁and ▁this ▁was ▁his ▁break through ▁release ▁upon ▁the ▁Billboard ▁magazine ▁G ospel ▁Albums ▁chart . ▁He ▁released ▁ 3 0 ▁albums ▁over ▁the ▁course ▁of ▁his ▁career . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Bla ir ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁August ▁ 6 , ▁ 1 9 3 0 , ▁as ▁Robert ▁Earl ▁Bla ir . ▁ ▁Music ▁career ▁His ▁music ▁recording ▁career ▁comm enced ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 5 , ▁with ▁the ▁album , ▁Stand ▁by ▁Me , ▁and ▁it ▁was ▁released ▁by ▁Check er ▁Records . ▁He ▁released ▁an ▁album ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁with ▁Atlanta ▁International ▁Records , ▁The ▁P ink ▁T orn ado , ▁and ▁it ▁was ▁his ▁break through ▁release ▁upon ▁the ▁Billboard ▁magazine ▁G ospel ▁Albums ▁chart ▁at ▁No . ▁ 3 4 . ▁His ▁music ▁career ▁ended ▁at ▁his ▁death ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁and ▁by ▁that ▁time ▁he ▁released ▁ 3 0 ▁albums ▁with ▁several ▁labels . ▁ ▁Personal ▁life ▁Bla ir ▁died ▁on ▁March ▁ 1 9 ,