Help: What became of Earl Robinson

Subject: What became of Earl Robinson
From: toadfrog
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 05:09 PM

He was the composer of "Joe Hill" and "Ballad for Americans, and "Same Boat Brother (which Leadbelly sang)." And probably more songs in "Sing Out," of which I lost my copy long ago. I heard him give a talk on what folk music was back in the mid 1950's, and I still think it was a right good talk, although he threw in some political ideas I do not entirely agree with.

I last heard of him in or about 1980, when some people I met told me he was living in Oakland, California and identified with a group called "Birds of Assisi."

I have often wondered if he was still alive, and if so, what he was doing. A search on line shows (1) his birthday was celebrated in 1985, so he must have been around then, and (2) "Earl Robinson" is a very common name.

Does anyone know?

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 05:30 PM

Hi, Toadfrog - we had a bit of a discussion about Robinson last week on the thread on The House I Live In, but nothing came up about his recent history. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll is often good for background information on performers. click here for their entry, which is limited.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: toadfrog
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 09:29 PM

Thanks Joe. There are several on-line references, but all I could find are (1) discogrophies; and (2) notes of a few events in his honor, or where he appeared. Nothing on his life.

It was only hearsay that Earl Robinson was involved in a group which was retrieving all the (types of) birds Francis of Assisi had spoken to. That sounded like a curious, but not impossible, shift in emphasis. Maybe that was a different Earl?

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 11:25 PM

Hi Toadfrog ... I forget excatly when Earl died, but I did attend his service in Seattle. It was very moving. His son conducted the rememberance. There was much music of many varieties, as you might expect. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 11:43 PM

Toadfrog ... I just sent you a PM. Bob

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: Abby Sale
Date: 15 Jul 02 - 08:20 AM

According to the "Happy!" file: Earl Robinson b July 2,1910 - d July 20, 1991.

He also composed one of my favorite things, "The Lonesome Train."

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: Mary Katherine
Date: 15 Jul 02 - 09:42 PM

His obituary from the Los Angeles Times of 7/23/91 indicates that he was killed on Saturday nighty, July 20, 1991 in King County, WA in a car crash. He was 81. The obituary runs 22 paragraphs, although some of them are short; still, quite a good show of respect for his tremendous contributions.

Mary Katherine

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: Deckman
Date: 15 Jul 02 - 09:55 PM

Hi Mary ... I didn't remember the details of his death. Do you suppose you could post the web site of the newspaper that carried that article ... I would like to read the story. Earl Robinson had a strong influence on my life. I can remember, barely, that I sang his song, "What Is America To Me", at my high school graduation. That was in 1855, as I remember! CHEERS, bob

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: GUEST,Argenine
Date: 16 Jul 02 - 12:26 AM

I also really like his song Black And White, which was popular in the 1960's during the Civil Rights movement.

Arge

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: Art Thieme
Date: 16 Jul 02 - 12:39 AM

Earl Robinson and my mentor Win Stracke, did "Ballad For Americans" as a two person performance at Chicago's Old Town School Of Folk Music back in the early to mid 1980s. I'm certain that WFMT-FM Radio in Chicago taped it. Still, I'm saddened to learn of Earl Robinson's death so long after the fact.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: Deckman
Date: 16 Jul 02 - 12:42 AM

It was probably 1954 or 55, when I went to the "Womens Centuary Club, on Capital hill in Seattle. I was a kritter just in or just out of high school. I sat mesmorized for two hours while Earl Robinson sat alone, at the piano, and did a full performance of his ...yet to be produced opera ... "SANDHOG" There he sat, composer, arranger, conductor, producer, pianist, singer, story teller, and told and SANG all the parts to the opera. He sang Bass, Alto, tenor, even soprano. I swear that he sang duets with himself. What an evening! He inspired me so much. We need more of his kind. CHEERS: bob

Subject: RE: Help: What became of Earl Robinson
From: Mary Katherine
Date: 16 Jul 02 - 12:59 AM

I was asked to post the link to the Los Angeles Times obit. Sorry, I got the info from the actual newspaper clipping, which I saved/filed at the time he died, not from the internet. I don't know whether the Times would have a link for something that old (were they even ON the web in 1991?) and don't know enough about searching their archives to find it. But I do have the actual clipping in my files if anyone wants a photocopy.

Mary Katherine