There has been some concern over her age at the time she recorded. One article that mentioned the concern said she was either 14 or 16, and probably was called the latter to avoid child labor laws. Another says that research revealed her to be born in 1910; however the research itself was not identified.

Their home was “a mecca” for early country music near Atlanta, due to her father’s prowess as a fiddler. He was the winner of the Georgia Old-Time Fiddlers Convention in 1920. Among the friends he brought to the house was Fiddlin’ Johnny Carson, whom Roba remembered playing music with at her house.

Roba was listed as being two years old in the April 25, 1910 U.S. Census and eleven years old in the January 16, 1920 Census. She had not reached her birthday in the 1920 calendar year when the census was taken. She would have been 12 if the 1920 census was taken in the same month as the previous census.

Roba recorded for Okeh Records in 1924 and 1925, performing solo and as part of her family’s Stanley Trio. She also made records with Bill Patterson.

She recorded three more in December 1924, All night long (Roba and her father Bob Stanley), Little Frankie (with Bill Patterson), and Railroad Bill (with her father Bob Stanley and with Bill Patterson).

Census records indicate that she would have been 16 at the time she recorded in 1924. From the census, we know she was born between January 17 and April 28 of 1908. That would make her 16 in the July 1924 recording session. Additionally, her family listed her birth date as February 11, 1908, which supports the census data.

Her last record, in July 1925, was solo. She made Old Maid Blues and Single Life.