Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Bobby Robinson

The Original Bobby's Happy House, 301 West 125th St.

 
Bobby's In Th Early 90's.
They're going to bury Bobby Robinson (Morgan Clyde Robinson, born April 16, 1917, in Union, S.C.) tomorrow at the United House Of Prayer For All People on 8th Ave and 125th Street, the viewing is 3-6 PM with a service to follow.  Obit can be found here.
Bobby's the last of the great New York record men, he died early this week at age 93, but he really died a few years ago when he could no longer afford the rent on his 125th St. record store Bobby's Happy House (his old store is now a KFC, he was relocated around the corner for a few years,  that building was torn down and Bobby was out on his ass), Bobby's Happy House which had been on the block since 1946.  Priced out nearly twenty years ago, the block is now home to Starbucks and Bill Clinton and the white gentrification of Harlem.
  Christ, how many great R&B and rock'n'roll records did Bobby make?  Kansas City by Wilbert Harrison, the #1 record the day I was born (May 23, '59), always made me feel like we had a personal bond. Lee Dorsey, Wild Jimmy Spruill,  Lightnin' Hopkins, Elmore James, a couple of hundred great doo wop records, early hip hop, Jerry Wexler couldn't shine his belt buckle.  I met him many times when Jimmy Spruill would take me by the record store, he always had a funny story to share, a smile, a joke, and some honest advice.  Bye bye pal, the town won't be the same without you.
Bobby & Buddy- What's The Word, Thunderbird (Fury 1008)
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16 comments:

  1. anticredosJanuary 13, 2011 at 5:33 AM

    Sad news, especially the eviction from his record shop and subsequent KFC installation. No sympathy to historic musical icons in this world, hopefully the next. I've started a 'doo-wop' / 'anything else I like' blog of modest capacity. Please take a looksy. Thanks for all you work at the Houndblog.

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  2. The HoundJanuary 13, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    "Sad news, especially the eviction from his record shop and subsequent KFC installation."

    Now that I think about it, that was around 18 years ago....

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  3. SecularJanuary 13, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    Has there ever been a better name for a record store? What a wonderful statement of intent. Damn, a world full of wonder is slipping away...RIP Bobby.

    In other sad news, word is, Steve Mancha / Clyde Wilson passed away on the weekend. RIP

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  4. Ken K. in NJJanuary 13, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Not to mention overseeing perhaps the greatest vocal kickoff to a record in the history of rock and roll:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbE6UPKQczo

    And a #7 record in NY City to boot.

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  5. BruceJanuary 13, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    Nice write up on Bobby,the record shop and the making of "Kansas City" in John Brovens "Record Makers and Breakers". I'm sorry I never got a chance to meet him.

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  6. Bob PomeroyJanuary 13, 2011 at 1:40 PM

    Didn't Bobby Robinson make up half of Bobby & Buddy? Their version of What's the Word, Thunderbird would fit well here.

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  7. JD KingJanuary 13, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Hey! Good to see you back!

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  8. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2011 at 8:14 PM

    I know wikipedia is not the best source but his obit on that site listed dozens of records he was associated with. Check it out.

    (oops I don't have a link; it's easy to find)

    and second it, welcome back, hound!

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    Not to mention overseeing perhaps the greatest vocal kickoff to a record in the history of rock and roll:

    Actually that was an edit. The long
    version is just as cool

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hpG47nKRmc&feature=related

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  10. Mark SatlofJanuary 14, 2011 at 9:52 PM

    Just to clarify the recent eviction from 8th ave, even worse is that the building WASN'T torn down, it's still standing, derelict. They threw out 6 or 8 businesses besides Happy House

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  11. anticredosJanuary 15, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    A link to some of Bobby's labels and releases

    http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/robinson.htm

    This one makes me smile every time I hear it..
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYpNtbEyDQo

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  12. MikeJanuary 17, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    R.I.P To a True R&B Legend!!

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  13. Gramercy7February 1, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    I attended his funeral service but am several weeks behind in blogging about it. A lot of people showed up but -- so far as I could tell -- not one of the artists he'd recorded. (Granted, many are long deceased.) Wilbert Harrison's brother Joel was there, however!

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  14. joeFebruary 21, 2011 at 2:59 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  15. www.mueblesennavarra.comOctober 13, 2011 at 4:37 AM

    Very effective piece of writing, thanks for your post.

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  16. viagra online without prescriptionJanuary 3, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    It's a shame, but Bobby was too old. The best we can do is to keep his memories forever in our minds.

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