Prince Robinson

Prince Robinson (June 7, 1902, Portsmouth, Virginia - July 23, 1960, New York City) was an American jazz reedist. He was known for soloing on both tenor saxophone and clarinet in the same recording.

Robinson learned to play clarinet as a teenager and moved to New York in 1923 after playing locally in Virginia. In New York he quickly found work both performing and recording, with the Blue Rhythm Orchestra, June Clark, Duke Ellington, Billy Fowler, the Gulf Coast Seven, Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Howard, Clara Smith, and Elmer Snowden. He played in Leon Abbey's group on a tour of South America in 1927, and the following year became a member of McKinney's Cotton Pickers.

In the 1930s Robinson worked with Lil Armstrong, Willie Bryant, Blanche Calloway, Roy Eldridge, and with Teddy Wilson accompanying Billie Holiday. His career continued robustly in the 1940s, including work with Louis Armstrong, Lucky Millinder, and Benny Morton; in 1945 he joined Claude Hopkins's band, where he would remain until 1952. Later in the 1950s he worked with Fletcher Henderson again and with Red Allen and Freddie Washington, in addition to leading his own ensemble in 1953.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 7, 1902 (Portsmouth), Died July 23, 1960 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, clarinet

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 68 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-46092 10-in. 7/11/1928 Sweet Sue, just you McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-46093 10-in. 7/11/1928 Four or five times McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-46094 10-in. 7/11/1928 Put it there McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-46095 10-in. 7/11/1928 Crying and sighing McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-46096 10-in. 7/11/1928 Milenberg joys McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-46098 10-in. 7/12/1928 Cherry McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-46099 10-in. 7/12/1928 Stop kidding McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-46400 10-in. 7/12/1928 Nobody's sweetheart McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (scat) instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-46401 10-in. 7/12/1928 Some sweet day McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-46402 10-in. 7/12/1928 Shim-me-sha-wabble McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-48619 10-in. 11/23/1928 It's tight like that McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-48620 10-in. 11/23/1928 There's a rainbow 'round my shoulder McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51084 10-in. 4/8/1929 It's a precious little thing called love McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51085 10-in. 4/8/1929 Save it, pretty mamma McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51086 10-in. 4/8/1929 I found a new baby McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51087 10-in. 4/8/1929 Will you, won't you, be my babe? McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51204 10-in. 4/9/1929 Beedle-um bum McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51205 10-in. 4/9/1929 Do something McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51206 10-in. 4/9/1929 Selling that stuff McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-58543 10-in. 1/31/1930 I'll make fun for you McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-58544 10-in. 1/31/1930 Words can't express McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-58545 10-in. 1/31/1930 If I could be with you one hour to-night McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-58546 10-in. 2/3/1930 Honeysuckle rose McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-58547 10-in. 2/3/1930 Then someone's in love McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-59140 10-in. 2/3/1930 Zonky McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
(Results 1-25 of 68 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Robinson, Prince," accessed June 1, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111099.

Robinson, Prince. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111099.

"Robinson, Prince." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 1 June 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111099

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