Isaac L. "Banjo Ikey" Robinson, b. July 28, 1904 in Dublin, VA, d. October 25, 1990 in Chicago, IL, jazz & blues banjoist and vocalist.
Born in Dublin, Virginia, Robinson moved to Chicago in 1926, playing and recording with Jelly Roll Morton, Clarence Williams, and Jabbo Smith during 1928-1929. His groups included Ikey Robinson and his Band (w/ Jabbo Smith), The Hokum Trio, The Pods of Pepper, Windy City Five, and Sloke & Ike. His jazz style influenced many subsequent players, and his 1929 recording "Rock Me Mama" is often cited as an early use of the term "rock" as it evolved from black gospel into rock and roll. Robinson reunited in the 1970s with Smith for a global tour. Robinson appeared in the 1985 film Louie Bluie, directed by Terry Zwigoff, a documentary about fellow musician Howard Armstrong. As recounted by Zwigoff, Robinson had not known Armstrong previously and was initially hesitant to meet him because of their differing musical styles. However, the two got on well and perform together in the documentary.
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By Scott Yanow
Ikey Robinson was an excellent banjoist and singer who was versatile enough to record both jazz and blues from the late '20s into the late '30s. Unfortunately, he spent long periods off records after the swing era, leading to him being less known than he should be. After working locally, Robinson moved to Chicago in 1926, playing and recording with Jelly Roll Morton, Clarence Williams, and (most importantly) Jabbo Smith during 1928-1929. He led his own recording sessions in 1929, 1931, 1933, and 1935 (all have been reissued on a CD from the Austrian label RST). Robinson played with Wilbur Sweatman, Noble Sissle, Carroll Dickerson, and Erskine Tate in the 1930s, recorded with Clarence Williams, and led small groups from the 1940s on. In the early '60s he was with Franz Jackson, and in the 1970s (when he was rediscovered) he had an opportunity to tour Europe and be reunited with Jabbo Smith.