Prince Robinson
Prince Robinson (June 7, 1902 – July 23, 1960)[1] was an American jazz reed player. He was known for soloing on both tenor saxophone and clarinet in the same recording.[2]
Early life[edit]
Robinson was born in Portsmouth, Virginia.[3] He learned to play clarinet as a teenager and moved to New York in 1923, after playing locally in Virginia.[2]
Career[edit]
In New York, Robinson quickly found work both performing and recording, with the Blue Rhythm Orchestra, June Clark, Duke Ellington,[3] Billy Fowler, the Gulf Coast Seven, Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Howard, Clara Smith, and Elmer Snowden.[3] He played in Leon Abbey's group on a tour of South America in 1927,[2] and the following year became a member of McKinney's Cotton Pickers.[3]
In the 1930s, Robinson worked with Lil Armstrong, Willie Bryant, Blanche Calloway, Roy Eldridge, and with Teddy Wilson accompanying Billie Holiday.[3] His career continued in the 1940s, including work with Louis Armstrong, Lucky Millinder, and Benny Morton; in 1945, he joined Claude Hopkins's band, remaining with Hopkins until 1952.[3] Later in the 1950s, he worked with Fletcher Henderson again and with Red Allen and Freddie Washington,[2] in addition to leading his own ensemble in 1953.[3]
His last recording was "Mainstream Jazz" by Andy Gibson and his Orchestra in 1959. He played a solo in tenor sax on the theme "Blueprint".
Death[edit]
Robinson died in New York City in July 1960.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ "Prince Robinson". Music.metason.net. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Prince Robinson Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2109. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
Bibliography[edit]
- Frank Driggs/Barry Kernfeld, "Prince Robinson". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Second edition.
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