Frederick L. Robinson (February 20, 1901 – April 11, 1984) was an American
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
trombonist known for his work with
Louis Armstrong
Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...
and other jazz groups.
Early life
Robinson was born on February 20, 1901, in
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...
. Robinson learned to play trombone in high school. He studied at the
Dana Musical Institute in Ohio.
Career
Robinson moved to Chicago in 1927. There, he joined
Carroll Dickerson's orchestra. In 1928, Robinson travelled to New York to play in Louis Armstrong's big band. Robinson played on Louis Armstrong's
Hot Five recordings and continued working with both Dickerson and Armstrong until late 1929 when he took a position in
Edgar Hayes's band.
In the 1930s, Robinson worked alongside
Marion Hardy,
Don Redman
Donald Matthew Redman (July 29, 1900 – November 30, 1964) was an American jazz musician, arranger, bandleader, and composer.
Biography
Redman was born in Piedmont, Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. His father was a music teacher ...
,
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...
,
Charlie Turner,
Fletcher Henderson
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson (December 18, 1897 – December 29, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. He was one of the most prolific black musical ...
, and
Fats Waller
Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and singer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid much of the basis for modern jazz piano. A widely popular star ...
. In 1939 and 1940 he joined
Andy Kirk's band. Later in the 1940s, he played with
George James,
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was a regular performer at the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he became a popular vocalist of the Swing music, swing era. His niche ...
, and
Sy Oliver
Melvin James "Sy" Oliver (December 17, 1910 – May 28, 1988) was an American jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader.
Life
Sy Oliver was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States. His mother was a piano teacher, and his f ...
. In the early 1950s, he worked with
Noble Sissle
Noble Lee Sissle (July 10, 1889 – December 17, 1975) was an American jazz composer, lyricist, bandleader, singer, and playwright, best known for the Broadway musical ''Shuffle Along'' (1921), and its hit song "I'm Just Wild About Harry".
Ea ...
.
Robinson ended his full-time musical career in the mid-1950s.
References
*"Fred Robinson". ''
The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz''. 2nd edition, ed.
Barry Kernfeld
Barry Dean Kernfeld (born August 11, 1950) is an American musicologist and jazz saxophonist who has researched and published extensively about the history of jazz and the biographies of its musicians.
Education
In 1968, Kernfeld enrolled at ...
.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Fred
American jazz trombonists
American male trombonists
1901 births
1984 deaths
Jazz musicians from Tennessee
20th-century American trombonists
20th-century American male musicians
American male jazz musicians
Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five members