Morgan Clyde "Bobby" Robinson (April 16, 1917 – January 7, 2011) Douglas Martin, "Bobby Robinson, Harlem Music Impresario, Dies at 93", The New York Times, January 12, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2021 was an American independent record producer and songwriter in New York City, most active from the 1950s through the mid-1980s.
Robinson produced hits by Wilbert Harrison, the Shirelles, Dave "Baby" Cortez, Elmore James, Lee Dorsey, Gladys Knight & The Pips, King Curtis, Spoonie Gee, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Doug E. Fresh, and Treacherous Three. He founded or co-founded Red Robin Records, Sue Records, Whirlin' Disc Records, Fury Records, Fire Records and Enjoy Records.
Biography Born in Union, South Carolina, Robinson served in the US Army in World War II. After the war, Robinson moved to New York City and opened "Bobby's Record Shop" (later "Bobby's Happy House") in 1946. There were only a few Black-owned businesses on 125th Street in Harlem during this period. Robinson's record shop became one of them. Located on the corner of 125th St. and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. His shop remained open until January 21, 2008, only being forced to close because the landlord planned to raze the building.
Robinson's store became a focal point for the independent record producers establishing themselves in New York. During this time, Robinson spent time assisting Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Records. He produced his first recording in 1951, "Bobby's Boogie" by saxophonist Morris Lane and his band. Robinson normally specialised in recording vocal groups including the Mello-Moods, the Rainbows, the Vocaleers and the Du Droppers. He also recorded blues performers such as Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
Robinson's first major success was "Shake Baby Shake" by Champion Jack Dupree in 1953. The record was released on Red Robin Records, which Robinson had established the previous year. The label was originally named Robin Records, but legal threats forced him to change it.
Having enjoyed healthy local sales with doo-wop and blues discs in the early-to-mid-1950s, Robinson established several more record labels, some in partnership with his brother, Danny Robinson. Among them were Whirlin' Disc Records in 1956, Fury Records and Everlast Records in 1957, Sue Records with Juggy Murray in 1957, Fire Records in 1959, and Enjoy Records in 1962. He launched Fire and Fury as vehicles for rhythm and blues and rock and roll artists, most of which were produced by him in New York City, but some were produced by others and acquired by him in various Southern cities.
Robinson produced top-selling records by Wilbert Harrison, The Shirelles, Lee Dorsey, and Dave "Baby" Cortez, many of whom were signed to the label by A&R man Marshall Sehorn. One of his earliest hits was Harrison's "Kansas City", over which he faced legal action brought by Herman Lubinsky of Savoy Records, who claimed he had Harrison under contract. Robinson produced Gladys Knight & the Pips' first hit, "Every Beat of My Heart" (after he signed them to Fury; the original version was recorded in Atlanta, issued locally on Huntom and leased to Vee Jay, who had the bigger hit). Robinson produced several Elmore James records as well as recordings by Lightnin' Hopkins, Arthur Crudup, and Buster Brown. King Curtis's "Soul Twist" was the first release of his Enjoy label in 1962, and over twenty years later, he released the hit, "I’m The Packman (Eat Everything I Can)" by The Packman, on the same label. The rights to Robinson's recordings on Fire and Fury were sold to Bell Records in 1965.
Compilation album producer Diana Reid Haig wrote:The common thread that connected all of Robinson's various record labels was his uncanny ability to bring out the best in his artists. While most producers at that time attempted to soften the edges of rhythm & blues singers in hopes of appealing to the pop market, Robinson delighted in capturing raw-edged artists like Elmore James and Buster Brown just as they were.
In the 1970s, Robinson produced some of the first hip-hop music records for his "Enjoy" label . In 1979, he recorded Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five's first record, "Superrappin'", an innovative record which was influential in hip-hop's early years. A local hit in New York, the record failed to hit nationwide. Robinson then produced records by Pumpkin and Friends, the Funky Four Plus One More, Spoonie Gee (Robinson's nephew), and Kool Moe Dee with the Treacherous Three. He produced Doug E. Fresh's "Just Having Fun (Do The Beatbox)", which introduced beatboxing to the record-buying public.
Robinson died on January 7, 2011, at the age of 93, after a period of declining health.
Discography
Selected production credits "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 "You Don't Have to Go" by Sam Myers, 1960 "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 "Wiggle Wobble" by Les Cooper, 1962 "Hot Potato" by Rinkydinks, 1963, became first title theme for Soul Train "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 (at over fifteen minutes, one of the longest rap records of its time) "Rockin' It" by The Fearless Four, 1982 several hits by Kool Moe Dee with the Treacherous Three ("The New Rap Language", "Feel The Heartbeat", "At The Party" and "Body Rock")
Fire 7" discography 1000 – Tarheel Slim And Little Ann – It's Too Late / Don't Ever Leave Me 1001 – Earl Lewis & The Channels – The Girl Next Door / My Heart Is Sad 1002 – Mary Ann Fisher – Wild As You Can Be / Put On My Shoes 1003 – Willis Jackson Band – Good To The Bone / Making It 1004 – ? 1005 – Vinnie & Kenny – Schooltime / Who (Is The Girl) 1006 – Wild Jimmy Spurill – Hard Grind / Kansas City March 1007 – Rockin' B Bradley – Lookout / I Have News For You 1008 – Buster Brown – Fannie Mae / Lost In A Dream 1009 – Tarheel Slim & Little Ann – Much Too Late / Lock Me In Your Heart 1010 – May Ann Fisher – As Wild As You Can Be / Only Yesterday 1011 – Elmore James And His Broomdusters – Make My Dreams Come True / Bobby's Rock 1012 – The Rainbows – Mary Lee / Evening 1013 – Little Bobby Roach – Mush / More Mush 1014 – Bobby Marchan & The Tick Tocks – Shoppin' And Accusin' / This Is The Life 1015 – Johnny Acey – Why / Please Don't Go Back (To Baltimore) 1016 – Elmo James And His Broomdusters – The Sky Is Crying / Held My Baby Last Night 1017 – Tarheel Slim & Little Ann – Can't Stay Away Part 1 / Part 2 1018 – Paul Perryman – Look At My Baby / Keep A'Calling 1019 – Riff Ruffin – All My Life / Gravy Train 1020 – Buster Brown – The Madison Shuffle / John Henry (The Steel Driving Man) 1021 – Tarheel Slim & Little Ann – Forever I'll Be Yours / Anything For You 1022 – Bobby Marchan – There's Something On Your Mind Part 1 / Part 2 1023 – Buster Brown – Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby / Don't Dog Your Woman 1024 – Elmore James – Rollin' And Tumblin' / I'm Worried 1025 – Billy Lewis – Tell All The World About You /Heart Trouble 1026 – The Gay Poppers – I Want To Know / I've Got It 1027 – Bobby Marchan – Booty Green / It Hurts Me To My Heart 1028 – Bobby Marchan – You're Still My Baby Part 1 / Part 2 1029 – The Upsetters – Jaywalkin' / Steppin' Out 1030 – Tarheel Slim & Little Ann – Security / Bless You My Darling 1031 – Elmo James – Done Somebody Wrong / Fine Little Mama 1032 – Buster Brown – Doctor Brown / Sincerely 1033 – Mighty Joe Young – Empty Arms / Why Baby 1034 – Lightin' Hopkins – Mojo Hand / Glory Be 1035 – Bobby Marchan – All In My Mind / I Miss You So 1036 – Johnny Chef – Can't Stop Moving / Baby Please Come Back 1037 – Bobby Marchan – What You Don't Know Don't Hurt You / I Need Someone (I Need You) 1038 – The Tellers – I Wanna Run To You / Tears Fell From My Eyes 1039 – The Gay Poppers – Please Mr Cupid / You Got Me Uptight 1040 – Buster Brown – Blues When It Rains / Good News 500 – Willie Bradford – So Long / Wanna Be Loved 501 – Dr Horse – I'm Tired Of It / Think I Know 502 – Otis Scott – New Kind Of Love / ? 503 – Slim And Ann, Orchestra Conducted By Larry Lucie – It's A Sin / You're Gonna' Reap (Everything You Sow) 504 – Elmore James – Look on Yonder Wall / Shake Your Moneymaker 505 – Chuck Bradford – You're Gonna Miss Me / Say It Was A Dream 506 – Tarheel Slim & Little Ann – Forever I'll Be Yours / Can't Stay Away From You 507 – Buster Brown – I'm Going Out But I'll Be Back / Sugar Babe 508 – Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford – I Need Your Lovin' / Tell Me 509 – ? 510 – Bobby Marchan – Yes It's Written All Over Your Face / Look At My Heart 511 – Chuck Bradford – You Can't Hurt Me Anymore / Wherever You Are 512 – Linda Martell & The Anglos – A Little Tear / The Things I Do For You 513 – Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford – Don't You Worry / I'm Coming Home To Stay 514 – Dr Horse – Jack The Cat Was Clean / Salt Pork West Va 515 – ? 516 – Buster Brown – Raise A Ruckus Tonight / Gonna Love My Baby 517 – Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford – Lead Me On / Tcb (Taking Care Of Business) 1501 – Arthur Crudup – Rock Me Mama / Mean Ole Frisco 1502 – Arthur Crudup – Katie Mae / Dig Myself A Hole 1503 – Elmore James – Strangerblues / Anna Lee 2020 – Elmore James – Pickin' The Blues / It Hurts Me To 2021 – Buster Brown – Sugar Babe / Don't Dog Your Woman 2022 – Larry Dale – Rock A While / The Things I Used To Do 5001 – Darwin Nelson – Mary Sue / Good Gosh Gerty – 1959
Fire LP discography FLP-100 – Here Are The Hits! – Various Artists Original cover has photograph of teenagers dancing. Record label is white with red printing. Deserie – Charts/Mary Lee – Rainbows/Dear One -Scarlets/I've Lost – Scarlets/I – Velvets/I Cried – Velvets//My Love Will Never Die – Channels/Bye Bye Baby – Channels/Evening – Rainbows/Oh Gee Oh Gosh – Kodaks/I'm So Happy – Teen Chords/Lydia – Teen Chords FLP-100 – Memory Lane – Various Artists Second cover called "Memory Lane, Hits by the Original Groups", there is no picture. Record label is red with black printing. Deserie -Charts/Mary Lee – Rainbows/Dear One -Scarlets/I've Lost – Scarlets/I – Velvets/I Cried – Velvets//My Love Will Never Die – Channels/Bye Bye Baby – Channels/Evening – Rainbows/Oh Gee Oh Gosh – Kodaks/I'm So Happy – Teen Chords/Lydia – Teen Chords FLP-101 – Buster Brown New King Of The Blues – Buster Brown Label is white with red printing. FLP-101 in trail off area of LP. Fannie Mae/John Henry/Madison/St. Louis Blues/When Things Go Wrong/Lost In A Dream//Is You Is Or Is You Ain't/Don't Dog Your Woman/Blue Berry Hill/Sincerely/I'm Goin' But I'll Be Back FLP-102 – Buster Brown New King Of The Blues – Buster Brown Cover is blue with drawing of Buster Brown, label is red with black printing. FLP-101 in trail off area of LP even though the cover and label say FLP-102. Fannie Mae/John Henry/Madison/St. Louis Blues/When Things Go Wrong/Lost In A Dream//Is You Is Or Is You Ain't/Don't Dog Your Woman/Blue Berry Hill/Sincerely/I'm Goin' But I'll Be Back FLP-103 – Mean Ol' Frisco – Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup Label is red with black printing. Mean Ole Frisco/Look On Yonder Wall/That's Alright/Ethel Mae/Too Much Competition/Standing At My Window//Rock Me Mama/Greyhound Bus/Coal Black Mare/Katie Mae/Dig Myself A Hole/So Glad You're Mine FLP-104 – Mojo Hand – Lightnin' Hopkins Label is red with black print. Mojo Hand/Coffee For Mama/Awful Dream/Black Mare Trot/Have You Ever Loved A Woman//Glory Bee/Sometimes She Will/Shine On Moon!/Santa FLP-105 – I Need Your Lovin' – Don Gardner/Dee Dee Ford Need Your Lovin'/Now It's Too Late/Nobody But You/Make The Girl Love Me/You Said/Tell Me//I Need You/I'm Coming Home To Stay/What A Thrill/Honey Sweet/Don't You Worry
Fury 7" discography