Sugar Chile Robinson

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Sugar Chile Robinson
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
Years active1945–1959;[1] 2002–2014
LabelsCapitol

Frank Isaac Robinson (born December 28, 1938),[2] known in his early musical career as Sugar Chile Robinson, is an American jazz pianist and singer. A Detroit native, Robinson became famous as a child prodigy in the mid-1940s.[3]

Biography

Robinson was born the youngest of seven children to Clarence A. and Elizabeth Robinson in

Detroit, Michigan.[4][5] At an early age he showed unusual gifts singing the blues and accompanying himself on the piano.[6] According to contemporary newsreels, he was self-taught and managed to use techniques including slapping the keys with elbows and fists.[7]

Robinson won a talent show at the Paradise Theatre in Detroit at the age of three, and in 1945 played guest spots at the theatre with

Harry "The Hipster" Gibson, and also appeared as himself in the Hollywood film No Leave, No Love, starring Van Johnson and Keenan Wynn.[8]

In 1946, Robinson played for

'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet. The following year, he toured the United Kingdom, appearing at the London Palladium.[5] He stopped recording in 1952, later explaining:[3]

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.

Until 1956, Robinson continued to make occasional appearances as a jazz musician, billed as Frank Robinson, and performed on one occasion with

Olivet College and one in psychology from the Detroit Institute of Technology.[1] In the 1960s, he worked for WGPR-TV, and also helped set up small record labels in Detroit and opened a recording studio.[3]

Later years

In more recent years, Robinson has made occasional appearances as a musician with the help of the American Music Research Foundation. In 2002, Robinson appeared at a special concert celebrating Detroit music, and in 2007 he traveled to Britain to appear at a

Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame
.

Robinson's 1955 song "Go Boy Go" was featured in a GMC advertisement in 2020.

Personal life

In 2013, Robinson lost his belongings in a house fire which led him into financial debt. The Music Maker Relief Foundation organization received a call from friends and sent him a bed and put him on a monthly sustenance program. Buddy Smith, who was inspired by Robinson in the 1940s, sent him a piano.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Whatever Happened to..."Sugar Chile Robinson"". Ebony. June 1971. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  2. ^ Dwivedi, Sujata (March 18, 2021). "Sugar Chile Robinson - An American Singer, Pianist & A Former Child Prodigy". Gcpawards.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Penny, Dave. "Profile of Sugar Chile Robinson". Black Cat Rockabilly. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Blues: A Regional Experience, By Bob L. Eagle, Eric S. LeBlanc, 2013
  5. ^
    ISBN 0-85112-939-0
    .
  6. ISSN 0024-3019
    .
  7. YouTube
  8. ^ "Frankie 'Sugar Chile' Robinson Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  9. ^ de Paduwa, Walter (December 27, 2013). "Playlist for Dr Boogie". Doctor Boogie. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "The Story of Frank 'Sugar Chile' Robinson". Music Maker Relief Foundation. December 27, 2017. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sugar Chile Robinson.

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