Alvin "Shine" Robinson (December 22, 1937 – January 25, 1989),
sometimes credited as Al Robinson, was an American
rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly ...
singer, guitarist, and songwriter, based in
. His recording of "Something You Got" reached the ''
Billboard''
Hot 100 in 1964.
Biography
He was born in New Orleans, and by the late 1950s was established as a
session musician in the city. In 1961, he recorded for
Imperial Records
Imperial Records is an American record company and label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd. The label was reactivated in 2006 by EMI, which owned the label and back catalogue at the time. Imperial is owned by Universal Music Group.
Early years to ...
in New Orleans, with "I'm Leaving You Today" betraying his influence by
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
.
[ Dan Phillips, "Further Reflections On Shine, Part 1", Home of the Groove, 14 September 2010]
''Homeofthegroove.blogspot.com'', Retrieved 12 May 2013
''Redkelly.blogspot.co.uk'', Retrieved 12 May 2013 His management was soon taken over by singer
Joe Jones, who had had a hit with "
You Talk Too Much" and who won Robinson a recording contract with Tiger Records, a new label set up in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
by songwriters and record producers
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Lyricist Jerome Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) and composer Michael Stoller (born March 13, 1933) were American songwriting and record producing partners. They found success as the writers of such crossover hit songs as " Hound Dog" ( ...
.
[ In 1964, he recorded a version of Chris Kenner's song "Something You Got".][ John Broven, ''Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans''"> John Broven, ''Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans'']
Pelican Publishing, 1988, p.192 The song, featuring Robinson's "fantastically bluesy growl",
. Retrieved 11 May 2013[Biography]
''AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
''. Retrieved 12 May 2013
He moved with Leiber and Stoller to their next label, Red Bird Records
Red Bird Records was a record label founded by American pop music songwriters Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, and George Goldner in 1964. Though often thought of as a " girl-group" label, female-led acts made up only 40% of the artist roster on Red B ...
, and recorded "Down Home Girl", a song written by Leiber with Artie Butler, arranged by Joe Jones, and produced by Leiber and Stoller. Although the record was critically acclaimed, and was regarded by Leiber and Stoller as the best record issued on the Red Bird label, it was not a commercial success,[ but was ]covered
Cover or covers may refer to:
Packaging
* Another name for a lid
* Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package
* Album cover, the front of the packaging
* Book cover or magazine cover
** Book design
** Back cover copy, part of co ...
by the Rolling Stones on their 1965 album ''The Rolling Stones No. 2
''The Rolling Stones No. 2'' is the second studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released in 1965 following the success of their 1964 debut album ''The Rolling Stones''. It followed its predecessor's tendency to largely fe ...
''.[ Robinson's later recordings for Red Bird and its subsidiary Blue Cat label, including a reshaped version of " Let The Good Times Roll" arranged by ]Wardell Quezergue
Wardell Joseph Quezergue ( ; March 12, 1930 – September 6, 2011) was an American composer, arranger, record producer and bandleader, known among New Orleans musicians as the "Creole Beethoven". Steeped in Music of New Orleans#Jazz, jazz, he was ...
, also failed to reach the charts.[
Robinson continued to record in his own name and as a session guitarist. He moved to ]Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, and recorded "Let Me Down Easy", written by King Curtis
Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery; February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), known professionally as King Curtis, was an American saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock and roll. A bandleader, band member, and session musician ...
, for Atco Atco or ATCO may refer to:
Businesses
* ATCO, a Canadian diversified company involved in manufacturing, utilities, energy and technologies
** ATCO Electric, a subsidiary of the above company
* Atco (British mower company), a mower manufacturing ...
in 1967.[ He also began playing with ]Dr. John
Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music encompassed New Orleans blues, jazz, funk, and R&B.
Active as a session musician from ...
, and appeared as a guitarist on the albums ''Babylon
''Bābili(m)''
* sux, 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠
* arc, 𐡁𐡁𐡋 ''Bāḇel''
* syc, ܒܒܠ ''Bāḇel''
* grc-gre, Βαβυλών ''Babylṓn''
* he, בָּבֶל ''Bāvel''
* peo, 𐎲𐎠𐎲𐎡𐎽𐎢 ''Bābiru''
* elx, 𒀸𒁀𒉿𒇷 ''Babi ...
'', '' Dr. John's Gumbo'', and ''Hollywood Be Thy Name
''Hollywood Be Thy Name'' is a live album by New Orleans R&B artist Dr. John. It was produced by producer Bob Ezrin. The recording venue, Willie Purple's Niteclub, was in reality Cherokee Recording Studios with a live audience.
Track listing
P ...
'',[ as well as co-writing several album tracks with Dr. John. As a solo performer, Robinson recorded for ]Harold Battiste
Harold Raymond Battiste Jr. (October 28, 1931 – June 19, 2015) was an American music composer, arranger, performer, and teacher. A native of, and later community leader in, New Orleans, he is best known for his work as an arranger on record ...
's A.F.O. and Pulsar labels; one of his recordings for Pulsar, "Sho' Bout To Drive Me Wild", featured contributions from many New Orleans musicians including Battiste, Dr. John, Jessie Hill
Jessie Hill (December 9, 1932 – September 17, 1996) was an American R&B and Louisiana blues singer and songwriter, best remembered for the classic song "Ooh Poo Pah Doo".
Life and career
Hill was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United Sta ...
and King Floyd
King Floyd (February 13, 1945 – March 6, 2006) was a New Orleans soul singer and songwriter, best known for his top 10 hit from 1970, "Groove Me".
Early career
King Floyd III was born in New Orleans in 1945. His musical career started as a s ...
.[ He was also credited on Carly Simon's album '']Playing Possum
''Playing Possum'' is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on April 21, 1975.
It was Simon's third consecutive album to reach the top 10 on the ''Billboard'' Pop albums chart, peaking a ...
'', and Ringo Starr
Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...
's '' Goodnight Vienna''.[
Robinson later returned to New Orleans, where he died in 1989 at the age of 51.]
Discography
1961
*"Haul Off and Die Over You" - Charly CRB 1181
*"Baby Don't Blame Me" - Charly CRB 11811)
*"I'm Leaving You Today" - Imperial 5727
*"Pain In My Heart" - Imperial 5727
*"Wake Up (And Face Reality)" - Imperial 5762
*"I Wanna Know" - Imperial 5762
*"Truly" - Charly CRB 1181
*"Oh Red" - Post 10001, Imperial 5824
1962
*"The Blues" - Post 10001, Imperial 5824
*"They Said It Couldn't Be Done" - Charly CRB 1181
*"Lazy Mary" - Charly CRB 1181
*"Dedicated To Domino" - Charly CRB 1181
*"Little Eva" - unissued
*"The Same Old Lonesome Town" - unissued
*"I Can't Open The Door To Your Heart" - unissued
*"The Wise Old Weeping Willow Tree" - unissued
1964
*"Something You Got" - Tiger 104, Blue Cat 104
*"Searching'" - Tiger 104, Blue Cat 104
*"Fever" - Red Bird 010
*"Down Home Girl" - Red Bird 010
1965
*"How Can I Get Over You" - Blue Cat 108
*"I'm Gonna Put Some Hurt On You" - Blue Cat 108
*"Bottom Of My Soul" - Blue Cat 113
*" Let The Good Times Roll" - Blue Cat 113
1966
*"Whatever You Had You Ain't Got It No More" - Joe Jones JJ1, Strike JH307
*"You Brought My Heart Right Down To My Knees" - Joe Jones JJ1, Strike JH307
1967
*"She Knows What To Do For Me" - unissued
*"Ton Of Joy" - unissued
*"Let Me Down Easy" - Atco 6581
*"Baby Don't You Do It" - Atco 6581
*"Get Out Of My Life Woman" - unissued
*"Neki Hoki" - unissued
*"If It Don't Work Out" - unissued
1969
*"Give Her Up" - Pulsar 2417
*"Soulful Woman" - Pulsar 2417
*"Empty Talk" - Pulsar 2408
*"Sho' Bout To Drive Me Wild" - Pulsar 2408
*"Tuned In, Turned On" - Ace (UK) 450
*"Better Be Cool" - Ace (UK) 462
*"I'll Never Be Alone" - Ace (UK) 462
*"We Got Love" - Ace (UK) 462
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Alvin
1937 births
1989 deaths
Rhythm and blues musicians from New Orleans
American rhythm and blues musicians
American soul musicians
Singers from Louisiana
20th-century African-American male singers
African-American songwriters
20th-century American musicians
Imperial Records artists