Prince Robinson (June 7, 1902 – July 23, 1960) 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, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...

reed player. He was known for soloing on both tenor saxophone and clarinet in the same recording.

Early life

Robinson was born in

Portsmouth, Virginia Portsmouth is an independent city in southeast Virginia and across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,915. It is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval ...

. He learned to play clarinet as a teenager and moved to New York in 1923, after playing locally in Virginia.

Career

In New York, Robinson quickly found work both performing and recording, with the Blue Rhythm Orchestra, June Clark,

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was ba ...

, Billy Fowler, the Gulf Coast Seven,

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 mus ...

Lionel Howard __TOC__ Lionel may refer to: Name * Lionel (given name) Places *Lionel, Lewis, a village in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland * Lionel Town, Jamaica, a settlement Brands and enterprises * Lionel, LLC, an American designer and importer of toy trains and ...

, Clara Smith, and Elmer Snowden. He played in

Leon Abbey Leon Alexander Anthony Abbey (May 7, 1900 – September 1975) was an American jazz violinist and bandleader. Biography He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 7, 1900, to Luther James Robert Abbey and Eva Lee Alexander. He started his care ...

's group on a tour of South America in 1927, and the following year became a member of McKinney's Cotton Pickers. In the 1930s, Robinson worked with

Lil Armstrong Lillian Hardin Armstrong (née Hardin; February 3, 1898 – August 27, 1971) was an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, singer, and bandleader. She was the second wife of Louis Armstrong, with whom she collaborated on many recordings in ...

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 ...

, Blanche Calloway,

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 ...

, and with

Teddy Wilson Theodore Shaw Wilson (November 24, 1912 – July 31, 1986) was an American jazz pianist. Described by critic Scott Yanow as "the definitive swing pianist", Wilson had a sophisticated, elegant style. His work was featured on the records of many ...

accompanying

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop s ...

. His career continued in the 1940s, including work with Louis Armstrong,

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 ...

, and Benny Morton; in 1945, he joined Claude Hopkins's band, remaining with Hopkins until 1952. Later in the 1950s, he worked with Fletcher Henderson again and with

Red Allen Henry James "Red" Allen, Jr. (January 7, 1908 – April 17, 1967) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist whose playing has been claimed by Joachim-Ernst Berendt and others as the first to fully incorporate the innovations of Louis Arms ...

and Freddie Washington, in addition to leading his own ensemble in 1953. His last recording was "Mainstream Jazz" by

Andy Gibson Albert "Andy" Gibson (November 6, 1913 – February 11, 1961) was an American jazz trumpeter, arranger, and composer. Career Gibson played violin early on before settling on trumpet. Although he played professionally in many orchestras, he did ...

and his Orchestra in 1959. He played a solo in tenor sax on the theme "Blueprint".

Death

Robinson died in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...

in July 1960.

References

Bibliography

*Frank Driggs/

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 ...

, "Prince Robinson". '' The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz''. Second edition. {{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Prince 1902 births 1960 deaths American jazz clarinetists American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists 20th-century American saxophonists Jazz musicians from Virginia 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians McKinney's Cotton Pickers members