Sugar Chile Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sugar Chile Robinson
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Robinson, c. 1950
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Frank Isaac Robinson |
| Also known as |
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| Born | December 28, 1938 Detroit, Michigan, US |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1945–1959; 2002–2014 |
| Labels | Capitol |
Frank Isaac Robinson (born December 28, 1938), known as Sugar Chile Robinson, is an American jazz pianist and singer. He became famous as a child prodigy (a very talented child) in the mid-1940s. He was known for his amazing piano skills at a very young age.
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Amazing Early Life
Frank Isaac Robinson was born in Detroit, Michigan. He was the youngest of seven children. His father was a truck driver, and his family later owned a neighborhood store.
Frank showed special talents from a very young age. He could say the alphabet when he was only 6 months old! He was reading by age three. Even before he was two years old, he was singing the blues and playing the piano. He taught himself to play. He would even hit the keys with his elbows and fists!
When he was three, Frank won a talent show at the Paradise Theatre in Detroit. He was a small child, weighing only 40 pounds at age 7. Even as an adult, he was under 5 feet tall. Because he was so small, he often played the piano while standing up.
Frank's mother passed away when he was about five years old. After he stopped his music career as a child, Robinson went to college. He earned a degree in history and another in psychology.
His Music Career
In 1945, when he was just six years old, Frank played as a guest with famous musician Lionel Hampton. Child protection laws stopped Hampton from taking Frank on tour. However, Frank performed on radio shows with Hampton and Harry "The Hipster" Gibson. He also appeared in a Hollywood movie called No Leave, No Love.
In 1946, Robinson played for President Harry S. Truman at a special dinner. During his song "Caldonia", he famously shouted, "How'm I Doin', Mr. President?" This became his well-known catchphrase. He was the first African American performer to play at this yearly dinner.
He started touring big theaters and broke ticket sales records. At his most popular, he was earning $10,000 a week! In 1949, he was allowed to join the American Federation of Musicians. This allowed him to record his first songs with Capitol Records. His songs "Numbers Boogie" and "Caldonia" became hits on the Billboard R&B chart.
In 1950, he toured and appeared on TV with Count Basie. He also starred in a short film. The next year, he toured the UK and played at the famous London Palladium.
He stopped recording new music in 1952. Until 1956, Robinson still played jazz music sometimes, but he used his real name, Frank Robinson. He even played with Gerry Mulligan once. By 1959, he stopped his music career completely. He later explained, "I wanted to go to school... I wanted some school background in me and I asked my Dad if I could stop, and I went to school because I honestly wanted my college diploma."
Life After Music
In the 1960s, Frank worked for a TV station called WGPR-TV. He also helped start small record companies in Detroit. He even opened his own recording studio. He also worked at his parents' store.
Back to the Piano!
In more recent years, Robinson has played music again sometimes. The American Music Research Foundation helped him. In 2002, he played at a concert celebrating Detroit music. In 2007, he went to Britain for a rock and roll festival. In 2013, a radio show called "Dr Boogie" featured him. They played four of his classic songs and shared stories about his early career.
Awards and Recognition
On April 30, 2016, Robinson attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner again. This was 70 years after his first performance there in 1946. Robinson met President Barack Obama. He received a standing ovation (everyone stood up and clapped) when a picture of him as a child appeared on the screens.
In 2016, Robinson was added to the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for musicians. In 2020, his 1955 song "Go Boy Go" was used in an advertisement for GMC trucks.
His Personal Story
After he stopped his childhood music career and finished college, Robinson was supported by a special fund. This fund was set up for him when he was a child. He lived simply as a young adult. He shared an apartment with his sister above their family's store.
In 2013, Robinson lost his belongings in a house fire. This caused him to have money problems. The Music Maker Relief Foundation helped him. They sent him a bed and gave him money each month. Buddy Smith, a musician who was inspired by Robinson in the 1940s, sent him a piano.
