Joseph Russel Robinson (July 8, 1892 – September 30, 1963) was an American ragtime, dixieland, and blues pianist and composer. He was a member of the Original Dixieland Jass Band.
J. Russel Robinson
J. Russel Robinson
Background information
Birth name
Joseph Russel Robinson
Born
(1892-07-08)July 8, 1892 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Died
February 24, 1963(1963-02-24) (aged 70) Palmdale, California
Robinson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. In his teens he worked as a pianist in theaters to provide music for silent movies.[1][2] With a right arm that was damaged by polio, he formed unusual techniques with his left hand.[2] With his brother John, a drummer, he toured the southern United States in the early 1910s with an extended stay in New Orleans.
He started publishing compositions in his teens; his early hits included "Sapho Rag" and "Eccentric".[3] His compositions were published as piano rolls by Imperial, the United Music Company, and QRS. He signed a contract with QRS to record blues songs from 1918 to 1921.[2] He worked as a manager for the publishing company owned by W.C. Handy.
Robinson became a member of the Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1919, replacing on piano Henry Ragas, who died on February 18, 1919, in the flu epidemic.[1] Aside from the band, in the early to middle 1920s he played piano for vocalists such as Lizzie Miles and Lucille Hegamin.[2] In the 1930s he became the head of NBC Radio's music department and was a major factor in reuniting the now scattered band. The reunion in 1936 yielded six RCA Victor recordings as "The Original Dixieland Five," several network radio appearances (one with Benny Goodman), and an appearance in a "March of Time" movie short, with J. Russel Robinson speaking on-camera.
At the end of the decade Robinson moved to California and continued to write songs.[2]
CompositionsEdit
J. Russel Robinson/Roy Turk Aggravatin' Papa (Don't you try to two-time me), sheet music cover, 1922
"Singin' the Blues" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in a 1927 recording by Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra featuring Bix Beiderbecke on cornet.[5]
^ abcFeather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (2007). The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford University Press. p. 563. ISBN978-0-19-507418-5.
^ abcdefghijHasse, John Edward (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 3 (2 ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries. p. 433. ISBN1-56159-284-6.
^Jasen, David A.; Trebor Jay Tichenor (1978). Rags and Ragtime: A Musical History. New York, NY: Dover Publications, Inc. p. 150. ISBN0-486-25922-6.
^Bloom, Ken (2001), American Song: Songwriters (Vol. 3), Schirmer Books, p. 745, ISBN9780028654782
^"Grammy Hall of Fame". Grammy.com. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
russel, robinson, joseph, russel, robinson, july, 1892, september, 1963, american, ragtime, dixieland, blues, pianist, composer, member, original, dixieland, jass, band, background, informationbirth, namejoseph, russel, robinsonborn, 1892, july, 1892indianapol. Joseph Russel Robinson July 8 1892 September 30 1963 was an American ragtime dixieland and blues pianist and composer He was a member of the Original Dixieland Jass Band J Russel RobinsonJ Russel RobinsonBackground informationBirth nameJoseph Russel RobinsonBorn 1892 07 08 July 8 1892Indianapolis Indiana U S DiedFebruary 24 1963 1963 02 24 aged 70 Palmdale CaliforniaGenresJazzdixielandragtimebluestraditional popclassicalOccupation s Musician composer lyricistInstrument s PianoYears active1908 1950 Contents 1 Career 2 Compositions 3 Awards and honors 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksCareer EditRobinson was born in Indianapolis Indiana In his teens he worked as a pianist in theaters to provide music for silent movies 1 2 With a right arm that was damaged by polio he formed unusual techniques with his left hand 2 With his brother John a drummer he toured the southern United States in the early 1910s with an extended stay in New Orleans He started publishing compositions in his teens his early hits included Sapho Rag and Eccentric 3 His compositions were published as piano rolls by Imperial the United Music Company and QRS He signed a contract with QRS to record blues songs from 1918 to 1921 2 He worked as a manager for the publishing company owned by W C Handy Robinson became a member of the Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1919 replacing on piano Henry Ragas who died on February 18 1919 in the flu epidemic 1 Aside from the band in the early to middle 1920s he played piano for vocalists such as Lizzie Miles and Lucille Hegamin 2 In the 1930s he became the head of NBC Radio s music department and was a major factor in reuniting the now scattered band The reunion in 1936 yielded six RCA Victor recordings as The Original Dixieland Five several network radio appearances one with Benny Goodman and an appearance in a March of Time movie short with J Russel Robinson speaking on camera At the end of the decade Robinson moved to California and continued to write songs 2 Compositions Edit nbsp J Russel Robinson Roy Turk Aggravatin Papa Don t you try to two time me sheet music cover 1922Robinson s songs include That Eccentric Rag 1 Margie 2 A Portrait of Jennie 2 Beale Street Mama 2 Aggravatin Papa 2 Reefer Man 4 and Singin the Blues 2 Awards and honors Edit Singin the Blues was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in a 1927 recording by Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra featuring Bix Beiderbecke on cornet 5 See also EditList of ragtime composersReferences Edit a b c Feather Leonard Gitler Ira 2007 The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz Oxford University Press p 563 ISBN 978 0 19 507418 5 a b c d e f g h i j Hasse John Edward 2002 Kernfeld Barry ed The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz Vol 3 2 ed New York Grove s Dictionaries p 433 ISBN 1 56159 284 6 Jasen David A Trebor Jay Tichenor 1978 Rags and Ragtime A Musical History New York NY Dover Publications Inc p 150 ISBN 0 486 25922 6 Bloom Ken 2001 American Song Songwriters Vol 3 Schirmer Books p 745 ISBN 9780028654782 Grammy Hall of Fame Grammy com 18 October 2010 Retrieved 10 July 2019 External links EditBiography Free scores by J Russel Robinson in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki J Russel Robinson recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title J Russel Robinson amp oldid 1131188896, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
