Robert Hazard, born Robert Rimato on August 21, 1948, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an American musician and composer. Growing up in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania he attended Springfield High School, graduating in 1966. He initially gained recognition for composing the song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" in 1979, which was later recorded by Cyndi Lauper in 1983 becoming a best-selling hit. Hazard's music career began with the release of his EP Robert Hazard in June 1982, featuring the new-wave and MTV songs "Escalator Of Life" and "Change Reaction". These tracks were performed by Robert Hazard and The Heroes and popularized in Philadelphia clubs during the 1980s. RCA Records released his first LP album, Wing of Fire, in January 1984. His later works included the albums Darling (1986), Howl (1998), The Seventh Lake (2004), and Blue Mountain (2004). In 2007, Rykodisc released his album Troubadour. Robert Hazard died at the age of 59 on August 5, 2008, following surgery for pancreatic cancer at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.