Morgan Clyde "Bobby" Robinson (April 16, 1917 – January 7, 2011)[1] was an American independent record producer and songwriter in New York City, most active from the 1950s through the mid-1980s.
Born in Union, South Carolina,[2] Robinson served in the US Army in World War II.[5] After the war, Robinson moved to New York City and opened "Bobby's Record Shop" (later "Bobby's Happy House") in 1946.[6] There were only a few Black-owned businesses on 125th Street in Harlem during this period. Robinson's record shop became one of them.[7] 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.[6] 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.[3][8]
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.[5] 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.[3]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.[5]
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.[9]
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.[citation needed]
Robinson died on January 7, 2011, at the age of 93, after a period of declining health.[10]
FLP-100 – Here Are The Hits! – Various Artists [1959] 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 [1959] 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 [1960] 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 [1960] 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 [1960] 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 [1962] 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 [1962] 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
FULP-1001 – Letter Full Of Tears – Gladys Knight & Pips [Unissued?] The trail off wax of FULP-1003 also has FLP-1001 which is scratched out. This would indicate that the Gladys Knight album was intended to be Fury 1001.
FULP-1002 – Ya Ya – Lee Dorsey [1962] Yellow label with black printing. Ya Ya/Give Me You/Do-Re-Me/People Gonna Talk/Chin Chin/Mess Around//Eenie Meenie Mini Mo/One And One/Yum Yum/Ixie Dixie Pixie Pie/Behind The Eight-Ball
FULP-1003 – Letter Full Of Tears – Gladys Knight & Pips [1962] The label is yellow with black printing. Trail off wax contains FU-LP-1003 and FLP 1001 which is scratched out. Letter Full Of Tears/You Broke Your Promise/Operator/I'll Trust In You/Morning Noon And Night/I Can't Stand By//Every Beat Of My Heart/Room In Your Heart/Guess Who/Stop Running Around/What Shall I Do?
ENLP-2001 – Soul Twist – King Curtis [1962] Label is gold with blue printing. Soul Twist/Twisting Time/What'd I Say/I Know/Sack O' Woe Twist/Camp Meetin'//Wobble Twist/Irresistible You/Big Dipper/Twisting With The King/Midnight Blue
ELP-201 – Our Best To You – Various Artists [1960] Label is orange with black printing. Deserie – Charts/Zoop – Charts/Why Do You Cry – Charts/Dance Girl – Charts/You're The Reason – Charts/I've Been Wondering – Charts//I Want To Know – Ladders/Counting The Stars – Ladders /My Love Has Gone – Ladders /Lorraine – Harmonaires/Come Back – Harmonaires/Baby – Bop-Chords
ELP-202 – Wiggle Wobble – Les Cooper and the Soul Rockers [1963] Label is white and orange with black printing. Popeye Dance/Wiggle Wobble No. 2/Jungle Pony/Dig Yourself/Shimmy Rock/Wiggle Wobble//The Monkey/Hippity Hop/Wobble Party/Twistin' One More Time/Bossa Nova Dance/At The Party