Bobby Robinson (record producer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bobby Robinson
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Robinson in front of his record store, 1977.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Morgan Clyde Robinson |
| Born | April 16, 1917 Union, South Carolina, United States |
| Died | January 7, 2011 (aged 93) Harlem, New York City, United States |
| Genres | Blues, rhythm and blues, hip-hop |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, music executive |
| Labels | Robin / Red Robin, Fury, Fire, Enjoy, Sue |
Bobby Robinson (born Morgan Clyde Robinson; April 16, 1917 – January 7, 2011) was an American record producer and songwriter. He was very active in New York City from the 1950s to the mid-1980s.
Bobby Robinson helped create hit songs for many famous artists. These include Wilbert Harrison, The Shirelles, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and early hip-hop stars like Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and Doug E. Fresh. He also started several important record labels. Some of these were Red Robin Records, Fury Records, Fire Records, and Enjoy Records.
Contents
A Life in Music
Early Years and Record Shop
Bobby Robinson was born in Union, South Carolina. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he moved to New York City.
In 1946, Robinson opened his own store called "Bobby's Record Shop." Later, it was known as "Bobby's Happy House." This shop was special because it was one of the few Black-owned businesses on 125th Street in Harlem. His store was a popular spot for independent record producers in New York. It stayed open for a very long time, until 2008.
Becoming a Producer
Robinson started producing music in 1951. His first recording was "Bobby's Boogie" by saxophonist Morris Lane. He often recorded vocal groups like the Mello-Moods and the Vocaleers. He also worked with blues artists such as Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
His first big hit was "Shake Baby Shake" by Champion Jack Dupree in 1953. This song was released on his own label, Red Robin Records. He had to change the name from "Robin Records" because of legal reasons.
Starting Many Labels
Bobby Robinson had great success with doo-wop and blues music. He then started more record labels. Some of these were Whirlin' Disc Records (1956), Fury Records (1957), and Sue Records (1957). He also launched Fire Records in 1959 and Enjoy Records in 1962. These labels helped release rhythm and blues and rock and roll songs.
Robinson produced many top-selling records. These included Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City" and The Shirelles' "Dedicated to the One I Love". He also produced Gladys Knight & the Pips' first hit, "Every Beat of My Heart." He worked with blues legends like Elmore James and Lightnin' Hopkins.
King Curtis's "Soul Twist" was the first song released on his Enjoy label in 1962. Later, in the 1980s, he released "I’m The Packman (Eat Everything I Can)" by The Packman on the same label.
A Special Touch
A music producer named Diana Reid Haig once said that Bobby Robinson was amazing at helping his artists sound their best. While many producers tried to make rhythm & blues singers sound softer for pop radio, Robinson loved to record artists like Elmore James just as they were, with their raw and powerful sound.
Pioneering Hip-Hop
In the 1970s, Bobby Robinson became a pioneer in hip-hop music. He produced some of the very first hip-hop records for his "Enjoy" label. In 1979, he recorded "Superrappin'" by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. This song was very new and important for early hip-hop. It was a hit in New York.
He also produced records for other early hip-hop artists. These included Spoonie Gee (who was his nephew) and Kool Moe Dee with the Treacherous Three. He even produced Doug E. Fresh's "Just Having Fun (Do The Beatbox)," which helped introduce beatboxing to many people.
Bobby Robinson passed away on January 7, 2011, at the age of 93. He left behind a huge legacy in music, from blues and R&B to the very beginnings of hip-hop.
Selected Production Credits
Here are some of the famous songs Bobby Robinson produced:
- "Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison, 1959
- "Dedicated to the One I Love" by The Shirelles, 1959
- "The Happy Organ" by Dave "Baby" Cortez, 1959
- "Fannie Mae" by Buster Brown, 1959
- "The Sky Is Crying" by Elmore James, 1960
- "Ya Ya" by Lee Dorsey, 1961
- "Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis, 1961
- "Every Beat of My Heart" by Gladys Knight & the Pips, 1961
- "Soul Twist" by King Curtis, 1962
- "Love Rap" by Spoonie Gee, 1980
- "Superappin" by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, 1979
- "Rappin' And Rocking The House" by the Funky Four Plus One More, 1979
- "Rockin' It" by The Fearless Four, 1982
- Several hits by Kool Moe Dee with the Treacherous Three (like "The New Rap Language" and "Feel The Heartbeat")
