The Robins
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Founder | Ty Terrell, Billy Richards, Roy Richards |
| Defunct | 1961 |
| Headquarters | California , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, singles |
The Robins were an influential American R&B vocal ensemble active from the late 1940s through the 1950s, playing a key role in the development of the doo-wop style.[1] The group was established by Ty Terrell along with twins Billy and Roy Richards, with Bobby Nunn joining shortly thereafter. Originally known as the Bluebirds, they changed their name to The Robins in May 1949.[1] In 1955, a division occurred within the group due to conflicting views about remaining on the West Coast or signing with Atlantic Records and moving to the East Coast. This led to the formation of the Coasters by producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who enlisted former Robins members Nunn and Carl Gardner, along with Leon Hughes and Billy Guy.[2] Meanwhile, the Richards brothers and Terrell carried on recording under The Robins name until 1961.[3]
Original members
- Bobby Nunn (lead/bass)
- Terrell "Ty" Leonard (tenor)
- William Gene "Billy" Richard (tenor)
- Roy Richard (baritone/bass)[1]
- Grady Chapman (lead/tenor)
Deaths
Roy Richard passed away on May 1, 1983.
Bobby Nunn succumbed to a heart attack on November 5, 1986.[4][5]
Billy Richard died as a result of an exercise-related fall on December 10, 2007.[4][6]
Grady Chapman died from congestive heart failure on January 4, 2011.
Carl Gardner passed away on June 12, 2011, after many years as the frontman for The Coasters.
Singles
| A Side | B Side | Released | Catalog No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "My Baby Done Told Me" | "Courtroom Blues" | 1948 | Excelsior 540 | Performed by Johnny Otis. Credited as the Four Bluebirds |
| "Around About Midnight" | "You Sure Look Good to Me" | 1949 | Score 4010 | Released under the Robins name |
| "Don't Like the Way You're Doing" | "Come Back Baby" | 1949 | Aladdin 3031 | Issued as the Robins |
| "If I Didn't Love You So" | "If It's So Baby" | December 1949 | Savoy 726 | |
| "Double Crossin' Blues" | "Ain't Nothin' Shakin'" | January 1950 | Savoy 731 | Featuring Leon Sims with backing vocals by Little Esther |
| "Double Crossin' Blues" | "Back Alley Blues" | 1950 | Savoy 731 | Credited to Beale Street Boys with backing vocals by Little Esther |
| "Turkey Hop Part One" | "Turkey Hop Part Two" | February 1950 | Savoy 732 | |
| "Our Romance Is Gone" | "There Ain't No Use Beggin'" | April 1950 | Savoy 738 | |
| "I'm Living O.K." | "There's Rain in My Eyes" | June 1950 | Savoy 752 | |
| "I'm Through" | "You're Fine But Not My Kind" | August 1950 | Savoy 762 | |
| "Cry Baby" | "I'm Not Falling in Love with You" | 1950 | Regent 1016 | Performed by Johnny Otis, Mel Walker & the Bluenotes |
| "Race of Man" | "Bayou Baby Blues" | 1950 | Recorded in Hollywood 112 | Featuring Maggie Hathaway |
| "A Falling Star" | "When Gabriel Blows His Horn" | 1950 | Recorded in Hollywood 121 | Credited as Maggie Hathaway & the Robins |
| "I Found Me a Sugar Daddy" | "Gonna Have a Merry Christmas" | December 1950 | RPM 313 | Released as the Nic Nacs featuring Mickey Champion |
| "Rockin'" | "That's What the Good Book Says" | March 1951 | Modern 20-807 | Issued as the Robins |
| "I Found Me a Sugar Daddy" | "You Didn't Want My Love" | 1951 | RPM 316 | As the Nic Nacs |
| "School Girl Blues" | "Early Morning Blues" | 1951 | Recorded in Hollywood150 | Featuring Maggie Hathaway |
| "I Found Me a Sugar Daddy" | "Gonna Have a Merry Christmas" | 1951 | RPM342 | As the Nic Nacs |
| "Saturday Night Daddy" | "Mainliner" | July1952 | Federal12100 | Backing vocals by Little Esther |
| "A Fool Such As I" | "My Heart's the Biggest Fool" | 1952 | RCA Victor5175 | |
| "Oh Why" | "All Night Baby" | 1952 | RCA Victor5271 | |
| "How Would You Know?" | "Let's Go to the Dance" | 1953 | RCA Victor5434 | |
| "My Baby Done Told Me" | "I'll Do It" | 1953 | RCA Victor5486 | |
| "Ten Days in Jail" | "Empty Bottles" | 1953 | RCA Victor5489 | |
| "Get It Off Your Mind" | "Don't Stop Now" | November1953 | RCA Victor5564 | |
| "I Made a Vow" | "Double Crossin' Baby" | December1953 | Crown106 | |
| "Sacroiliac Swing" | 1954 | Crown108 | Released as the Drifters | |
| |All I Do Is Rock"| February1954 | Crown120 | Under The Robins name | ||
| "Riot in Cell Block Nine"| |Wrap It Up"| May1954 | Spark103 | |||
| |Framed"|1954 | Spark107 | |||
| |Whadaya Want?" | 1954 | Spark110 | ||
| |I Love Paris"|1955 | Spark113 | |||
| "I Must Be Dreamin'" | The Hatchet Man"|1955 | Spark116 | ||
| |Just Like a Fool"| October1955 | Spark122 | |||
| |Just Like a Fool"| December1955 | Atco6059 | |||
| |Out of the Picture"| July1956 | Whippet200 | |||
| |Merry Go Rock"|1956 | Whippet201 | |||
| |That Old Black Magic"|1957 | Whippet203 | |||
| |All of a Sudden My Heart Sings"|1957 | Whippet206 | |||
| |Where's the Fire?" | 1957 | Whippet208 | ||
| |Keep Your Mind in Me"|1958 | Whippet211 | |||
| |You Wanted Fun"|1958 | Whippet212 | |||
| |Pretty Little Dolly"|1958 | Knight2001 | |||
| |It's Never Too Late"|1959 | Knight2008 | |||
| |Whole Lot of Imagination"|1959 | Arvee5001 | |||
| |Oh No"|1960 | Arvee5013 | |||
| "Ding Dong (Saw Wood Mountain)" | Sweet Thing"|1960 | Eldo109 | Released as the Ding Dongs | |
| "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover"|How Many More Times"|1961 | Lavender001 | |||
| Image of a Girl"|1961 | Gloria Gold3101 | B-side performed by The Safaris | ||
| Mary Lou Loves to Hootchy Kootchy Koo"|1961 | Lavender002 |
External links
- The Complete Story and Discography of The Robins
- performing as The Ding Dongs
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