Robby Robinson (musician)

Last updated

Robby Robinson
Birth nameMax Warren Robinson
Origin Litchfield, Illinois
GenresPop, jazz, orchestral
Occupation(s)Music director, keyboardist
Instrument(s)Hammond organ, synthesizer
Years active1976–present
Website www.robbyrobinsonmusic.com

Robby Robinson is an American music director, keyboardist, composer, arranger, and producer. He is best known as the music director and keyboardist for Frankie Valli since 1978, [1] [2] and in this capacity has conducted orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall, [3] the Houston Symphony, [4] the Pacific Symphony, [5] and the National Symphony Orchestra. [1] [6] [7] Robinson is a Hammond USA "family artist". [6] [8]

Contents

Early life and education

Robinson is originally from Litchfield, Illinois. He studied piano from age 7, saxophone from age 8, and started playing in rock bands at age 14. He majored in music at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. From high school through college, Robinson played in a variety of bands in the Southern Illinois-St. Louis area, after college he toured the US with Phil Driscoll and "Patch & Didi" (with his brother Rex Robinson, Lynn Hamman, and Didi Carr). [9] The Robinson brothers moved to Los Angeles in 1976. [10]

Career

From 1976 to 1978 Robinson played, arranged, and produced with a broad range of musicians such as Liza Minnelli, [11] Tom Jones, [12] Alphonse Mouzon, [13] Buddy Greco, [14] and Les DeMerle. [15] In 1978, at the recommendation of long-time friend Richie Gajate Garcia, Robinson joined Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, he has been the group's music director, conductor and keyboardist for over 40 years. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] In some circles, Robinson is known as the Fifth Season. [1] [23]

Robinson founded the annual Christmas concert, Jam for Jesus, in 1991, which is hosted at Bethlehem SCV in Canyon Country, Santa Clarita, California. [24] [25]

In 2017, [26] and in 2019, [27] the Robinson brothers returned to Litchfield to perform in benefit concerts for St. Francis Hospital, the two shows raised a quarter of a million dollars for the small-town hospital. [10] [28]

Date of releaseTitle Billboard peakLabelRole
November 2007Romancing the '60s [29] 167 Cherry Entertainment/Universal Motown Associate Producer, Fender Rhodes [30]

Personal life

Robinson lives in California. [31]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Oakes, Jordan (October 26, 2011). "Robby Robinson, Honorary Jersey Boy (and Fifth Season)". St. Louis Magazine. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021. Robby Robinson is more than just a keyboard player, writer, producer and conductor. You might consider him the fifth Season—a kind of honorary Jersey Boy. But there is nothing merely honorary about his contributions to the Four Seasons' live show. Robinson is the music director.
  2. ↑ "Robby Robinson". Playbill. October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Oh what a night…Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons at the Royal Albert Hall: Review". Express UK. July 5, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2021. Pony-tailed musical director Robby Robinson, who has been with Valli since 1976, conducts the LSO throughout and will later reveal his talents as a keyboard player despite badly injuring his leg before the tour
  4. ↑ Community report (September 29, 2016). "Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons live with the Houston Symphony". Chron. Retrieved December 1, 2021. Having collaborated with a multitude of artists ranging from Liza Minnelli to The Beach Boys, conductor and keyboardist Robby Robinson will lead the orchestra in an evening of hit singles that catapulted the famous foursome to the top of the charts.
  5. ↑ Rydzynski, Michael (July 11, 2018). "Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to perform with the Pacific Symphony". Daily Pilot. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2021. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons with the Pacific Symphony; Robby Robinson, conductor.
  6. 1 2 "Robby Robinson". Hammond USA . May 26, 2013. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  7. ↑ Robert Miller (October 4, 2021). "Robby Robinson -- Frankie Valli's Music Man". spotify.com (Podcast). Follow Your Dream. Event occurs at 44:21. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  8. ↑ Cichon, Kathy (February 10, 2017). "Hammond organ concert to benefit family of Gregg Gronowski". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Patch". The Metro St Louis Live Music Historical Society. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Robinson Brothers Bring It Home To Litchfield". The Journal-News. October 10, 2019. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  11. ↑ Tropical Nights (Liner notes). Liza Minnelli. US: Columbia. 1977. PC 34887. Retrieved October 26, 2021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Jones, Tom (August 20, 1979). "The Tonight Show with guest host David Brenner and guest Tom Jones". The Tonight Show. Season 1979. Episode 4251. NBC.
  13. ↑ Blue Note Live At The Roxy Vol.1 (Liner notes). Alphonse Mouzon. US: Blue Note. 1976. BN-LA663-J2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ Hot Nights (Liner notes). Buddy Greco. US: Applause Records. 1984. APLP 1004. Retrieved October 26, 2021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ Transfusion (Liner notes). Les DeMerle. US: Dobre Records. 1978. DR 1020. Retrieved October 26, 2021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ Ruhlmann, Ruhlmann. Review of The Very Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons: Live in Concert at AllMusic . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  17. ↑ Meteorologist, JOE MARTUCCI Press (January 1, 1970). "Review: Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons "Working their Way..." into hearts at Hard Rock". Atlantic City Weekly. Retrieved December 1, 2021. The three solo performances by Robby Robinson really highlighted the musical prowess that helped thrust The Four Seasons into fame. Robinson is the keyboard and musical director for Valli's shows. More than that, though, Robinson is someone Valli considers to be his best friend, with a 40-year bond between the two.
  18. ↑ Eck, Michael (May 11, 2012). "Frankie Valli solid at Proctors". Times Union. Retrieved December 1, 2021. The opening salvo of "Grease" and "Dawn" showed off both ends of Valli's long radio run, and gave the audience a taste of his tasty band, led by Robby Robinson (who's been at Valli's side for over 30 years).
  19. ↑ "This Frankie Valli show is the real thing". STLtoday.com. October 31, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2021. There was no opening act and no intermission; when the singers exited the stage for a quick, minuscule change of costume, music director Robbie Robinson, who's worked with Valli for 33 years, sustained the mood by showcasing the talented band.
  20. ↑ "Review: Frankie Valli's timeless talent hits just the right note at Omaha Symphony Gala". Omaha World-Herald. November 16, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021. Valli's longtime conductor and arranger, Robby Robinson, took over from there — and from the iconic opening bars of "Grease" performed by the symphony's brass section, you could tell you were in for something special. The musicians rocked it on a faster, fuller and more jazzy arrangement of "Dawn" and the percussive "Who Loves You."
  21. ↑ "JBB EXCLUSIVE: Interview With Bob Gaudio, Robby Robinson, and Shannon Gaudio". Jersey Boys Blog. February 10, 2021. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ↑ Negron, Roy (November 5, 2021). "Robby Robinson Rolls Out "ROBBY'S RECORDS"". NYC Tastemakers. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  23. ↑ Eggers, Kerry (June 20, 2018). "Frankie Valli: a man for all seasons". Pamplin Media Group. Retrieved December 1, 2021. Valli: Including four singers, we have 15 or 16 in our group. We have a couple of new members. I feel good about what we have now. It's something you put together very slowly to make sure you have the right people. My musical director, Robby Robinson (and longtime keyboardest and honorary "Fifth Season" for the group), has been with me about 40 years.
  24. ↑ Garcia, Martha (December 19, 2015). "Christmas concerts spread holiday spirit". The Santa Clarita Valley Signal . Retrieved October 28, 2021– via PressReader.
  25. ↑ "Dec. 21: 'Jam for Jesus' Continues Holiday Tradition". SCVNews.com. December 17, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2022. Robby Robinson, who is the music director for Frankie Valli is the producer and musical director of the unique Christmas Concert which features a night of musical styles from, "Bach to Rock, Gospel to Jazz and Beyond." The live-streamed show will be hosted by Robinson and international artist, Sara Niemietz. The incredible annual event was formally honored by the city of Santa Clarita Arts Commission in 2019. For many people in Southern California, Jam for Jesus is the highlight to the Christmas season!
  26. ↑ "Homecoming Concert Raises Over $105,000". The Journal News . Hillsboro, Illinois. September 27, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Robinson Brothers Homecoming Concert Success". HSHS St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield, IL. October 10, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2022. Paula Endress, director of philanthropy at the hospital said, " Our heartfelt thanks to Robby and Rex Robinson for bringing yet another all-star band to Litchfield. What a magical night of spectacular music it was! I am pleased to announce we raised $140,000 to benefit our cardiac department. Special thanks to our concert committee and all the volunteers who worked so hard to make such a memorable evening."
  28. ↑ "Robinson Bros. homecoming concert Oct. 5". Enquirer Democrat. Macoupin County, Illinois. September 6, 2019. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2021. "We are honored that Robby and Rex are returning home again to graciously benefit our hospital," said Paula Endress, director of philanthropy at the hospital. "They are bringing an all-star cast of their music industry friends. This is good news for all of our hearts."
  29. ↑ "Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Romancing the '60s". AllMusic . Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Robinson, Robby (Musician) - LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies | Library of Congress, from LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies (Library of Congress)". The Library of Congress. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
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