Ikey Robinson

Isaac L. "Banjo Ikey" Robinson (July 28, 1904 – October 25, 1990) was an American banjoist and vocalist.

Born in Dublin, Virginia, United States, Robinson moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1926, playing and recording with Jelly Roll Morton, Clarence Williams, and Jabbo Smith during 1928 and 1929. In 1929, Robinson recorded in Chicago with Georgia Tom, billed as The Hokum Boys. Their track, written by Dorsey, "I Had to Give Up Gym" was an early dirty blues song, sometimes described as hokum.

His groups included Ikey Robinson and his Band (w/ Jabbo Smith), The Hokum Trio, The Pods of Pepper, Windy City Five, and Sloke & Ike.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 28, 1904 (Dublin), Died October 25, 1990 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: banjo, guitar, tenor vocal, composer, leader, clarinet, lyricist, songwriter

Notes: Listed on some Columbia labels as Banjo Ikey Robison.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 103 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W403343 10-in. 11/16/1929 I'm going to get something from you The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick C2329 10-in. 9/20/1928 Skadatin-dee Sammy Stewart Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick C2747 10-in. 1/4/1929 Got butter on it Ikey Robinson Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
Brunswick C2748 10-in. 1/4/1929 Roses blues Ikey Robinson Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
Brunswick C2844 10-in. 1/22/1929 Ready hokum Ikey Robinson Band Instrumental ensemble, with vocal instrumentalist, banjo, leader  
Brunswick C2845 10-in. 1/22/1929 Mammy Moon Ikey Robinson Band Instrumental ensemble, with vocal instrumentalist, banjo, composer, leader  
Brunswick C2902 10-in. 2/1/1929 Pizen tea blues Ikey Robinson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, tenor vocal, lyricist, composer  
Brunswick C2903 10-in. 2/1/1929 Rockpile blues Ikey Robinson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, tenor vocal, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C2937 10-in. 2/9/1929 My four reasons Bull Fiddle Band ; Ikey Robinson Jazz/dance band, with vocal effects leader, composer  
Brunswick C2939 10-in. 2/9/1929 Rock me mama Bull Fiddle Band ; Ikey Robinson Jazz/dance band, with vocal effects leader, composer  
Brunswick C2953 10-in. 2/13/1929 You’ve had your way Bull Fiddle Band ; Ikey Robinson Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo leader, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C3030 10-in. 3/1/1929 Without a dime Ikey Robinson Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin), guitar, and piano vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick C3084 10-in. 3/8/1929 Same old blues Ikey Robinson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Gennett 13303 10-in. 12/15/1927 Good stuff Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 13304 10-in. 12/15/1927 Hollywood shuffle Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 38545 10-in. 9/5/1934 Ida, sweet as apple cider Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
Decca 38546 10-in. 9/5/1934 My gal Sal Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
Decca 38547 10-in. 9/5/1934 Gulf Coast blues Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
Decca 38552 10-in. 9/5/1934 I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
Decca 38781 10-in. 10/3/1934 Jazz it blues (Jazz me blues)-1 Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 38782 10-in. 10/3/1934 Somebody stole my gal Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 38783 10-in. 10/3/1934 Crazy blues Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 38784 10-in. 10/3/1934 Sugar blues Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 62637 10-in. 10/5/1937 Georgia man Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62638 10-in. 10/5/1937 All night blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 26-50 of 103 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Robinson, Ikey," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109807.

Robinson, Ikey. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109807.

"Robinson, Ikey." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109807

External Sources

Wikipedia: Ikey Robinson

Discogs: Ikey Robinson

Allmusic: Ikey Robinson

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Robinson, Ikey, 1904-1990 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no93033238

Wikidata: Ikey Robinson - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1524705

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/29106696

MusicBrainz: Ikey Robinson - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/979c2454-4a3c-4987-82e0-7444c19543a4

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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