Eli Robinson (June 23, 1908 – December 24, 1972) was a jazz trombonist and arranger. After working in Cincinnati in bands led by

Speed Webb Lawrence Arthur "Speed" Webb (18 July 1906 – 4 November 1994) was an American jazz drummer and territory band leader especially active in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Biography Webb first began playing on violin and mellophone before s ...

and

Zack Whyte Zack Whyte (sometimes spelled Zach Whyte) (1898 – March 10, 1967) was an American jazz bandleader, best known for leading the territory band the Chocolate Beau Brummels. Biography Whyte was born in 1898 in Richmond, Kentucky. He studied at Wilbe ...

, as well as

McKinney's Cotton Pickers McKinney's Cotton Pickers were an American jazz band, founded in Detroit, Michigan, United States in 1926, and led by William McKinney, who expanded his Synco Septet to ten players. Cuba Austin took over for McKinney on drums, with the latter bec ...

, and making his first recordings in 1935 with

Blanche Calloway Blanche Dorothea Jones Calloway (February 9, 1902 – December 16, 1978) was an American jazz singer, composer, and bandleader. She was the older sister of Cab Calloway and was a successful singer before her brother. With a music career that spa ...

. In 1936, he moved to New York City, where he was a member of the

Teddy Hill Teddy Hill (December 7, 1909 in Birmingham, Alabama – May 19, 1978 in Cleveland, Ohio) was an American big band leader and the manager of Minton's Playhouse, a seminal jazz club in Harlem. He played a variety of instruments, including dru ...

and

Willie Bryant William Stevens Bryant (August 30, 1908 – February 9, 1964) was an American jazz bandleader, vocalist, and disc jockey, known as the "Mayor of Harlem". Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, while growing up he took trumpet l ...

big bands and the

Mills Blue Rhythm Band The Mills Blue Rhythm Band was an American big band active during the 1930s. The band was formed in New York City, United States, in 1930 by drummer Willie Lynch as the Blue Rhythm Band, and then briefly operated as the Coconut Grove Orchestra. ...

. Three years later he played with

Roy Eldridge David Roy Eldridge (January 30, 1911 – February 26, 1989), nicknamed "Little Jazz", was an American jazz trumpeter. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos exhibiting a departure from t ...

and joined the big band of

Lucky Millinder Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder (August 8, 1910 – September 28, 1966) was an American swing and rhythm-and-blues bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical ...

. Beginning in 1941, he spent several years as a member of the

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

Orchestra. He returned to working with Millinder, then joined

Buddy Tate George Holmes "Buddy" Tate (February 22, 1913 – February 10, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Biography Tate was born in Sherman, Texas, United States, and first played the alto saxophone. According to the website All Ab ...

in 1954. Robinson never recorded as a leader.

Discography

As sideman

* 1935: "Louisiana Liza" b/w "I Gotta Swing" -

(

Vocalion Vocalion Records is an American record company and label. History The label was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Company, a maker of pianos and organs, as Aeolian-Vocalion; the company also sold phonographs under the Vocalion name. "Aeolian" was ...

) * 1935: "You Ain't Livin' Right" b/w "Line a Jive" – Blanche Calloway & Her Band (Vocalion) * 1939: ''The Varsity Sessions, Vol. 1'' –

Buster Bailey William C. "Buster" Bailey (July 19, 1902 – April 12, 1967) was an American jazz clarinetist. Career history Early career Buster Bailey was taught clarinet by classical teacher Franz Schoepp, who also taught Benny Goodman. Bailey gained his s ...

( Storyville) * 1944: "Empty Hearted" b/w "Tush" –

Earl Warren Earl Warren (March 19, 1891 – July 9, 1974) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as the 14th Chief Justice of the United States from 1953 to 1969. The Warren Court presided over a major shift in American constitution ...

& His Orchestra (

Savoy Savoy (; frp, Savouè ; french: Savoie ) is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south. Savo ...

) * 1944: "Circus in Rhythm" b/w "Tush" – Earl Warren & His Orchestra (Savoy) * 1945: "Harlem Nocturne" b/w "Midnight in the Barrelhouse" –

Johnny Otis Johnny Otis (born Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes; December 28, 1921 – January 17, 2012) was an American singer, musician, composer, bandleader, record producer, and talent scout. He was a seminal influence on American R&B and rock and roll. He ...

Big Band (Savoy) * 1958: ''

Swinging Like Tate ''Swinging Like Tate'' is an album by saxophonist Buddy Tate which was recorded in 1958 and released on the Felsted label.Buddy Tate George Holmes "Buddy" Tate (February 22, 1913 – February 10, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Biography Tate was born in Sherman, Texas, United States, and first played the alto saxophone. According to the website All Ab ...

(

Felsted Felsted (sometimes spelt Felstead) is a village and civil parish in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. The civil parish includes the hamlets of Bannister Green, Bartholomew Green, Causeway End, Coblers Green, Cock Green, Frenches Gre ...

, 2004) * 1959: ''

Tate's Date ''Tate's Date'' is an album by saxophonist Buddy Tate which was recorded in 1959 and released on the Swingville label.Prestige Swingville, 2003) * 1970: '' Unbroken'' – Buddy Tate Celebrity Club Orchestra ( MPS) * 1993: ''

The Master's Touch The Master's Touch is a jazz album by Lester Young. Track listing artistdirect.com ...

'' -

Lester Young Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most i ...

(recorded 1944)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Eli 20th-century births 1972 deaths American jazz trombonists Male trombonists People from Greenville, Georgia 20th-century American musicians 20th-century trombonists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians