Eli Robinson

Eli Robinson (June 23, 1908 – December 24, 1972) was an American jazz trombonist and arranger. After working in Cincinnati in bands led by Speed Webb and Zack Whyte, as well as McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and making his first recordings in 1935 with Blanche Calloway. In 1936, he moved to New York City, where he was a member of the Teddy Hill and Willie Bryant big bands and the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. Three years later he played with Roy Eldridge and joined the big band of Lucky Millinder. Beginning in 1941, he spent several years as a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. He returned to working with Millinder, then joined Buddy Tate in 1954. Robinson never recorded as a leader.

Birth and Death Data: Born Greenville (city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States), Died December 24, 1972

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1953

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone

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

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	CO49520	10-in.	6/11/1953	Stay away from my Sam	Big Maybelle ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trombone
Columbia	CO49521	10-in.	6/11/1953	Jinny mule	Big Maybelle ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trombone
Columbia	CO49522	10-in.	6/11/1953	Send for me	Big Maybelle ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trombone
Columbia	CO49523	10-in.	6/11/1953	Maybell's blues	Big Maybelle ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trombone
Excelsior	JR-141-A	10-in.	1944-1951	My baby's business	Johnny Otis ; Jimmy Rushing		instrumentalist, trombone
Excelsior	JO-141-B	10-in.	1944-1951	Preston Love's mansion	Johnny Otis		instrumentalist, trombone
Excelsior	JO-142-B	10-in.	12/31/1951	Harlem nocturne	Leon Beck ; René Block ; Teddy Buckner ; Bernie Cobbs ; Lorenzo Cocker ; Curtis Counce ; Bill Doggett ; Johnny Otis Band ; Billy Jones ; Harry "Parr" Jones ; Jap Jones ; Paul Quinichette ; Eli Robinson ; James Von Streeter ; Loyal Walker		instrumentalist, trombone
Excelsior	JR-142-A	10-in.	1944-1951	Jimmy's 'round the clock blues	Johnny Otis ; Jimmy Rushing		instrumentalist, trombone
Excelsior	JR-142-B	10-in.	1944-1951	Harlem nocturne	Johnny Otis		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	63558	10-in.	4/6/1938	Do the Alamo	Willie Bryant Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	63559	10-in.	4/6/1938	You'll never remember and I'll never forget	Willie Bryant Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	63560	10-in.	4/6/1938	You're gonna lose your gal	Willie Bryant Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	63561	10-in.	4/6/1938	Neglected	Willie Bryant Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	67292	10-in.	3/12/1940	Elephant swing	Franz Jackson and his Jacksonians		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	67293	10-in.	3/12/1940	Boogie woogie camp meeting	Franz Jackson and his Jacksonians		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	67294	10-in.	3/12/1940	Summer rhapsody	Franz Jackson and his Jacksonians		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	67295	10-in.	3/12/1940	You're the maker of rain in my heart	Franz Jackson and his Jacksonians		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	69437	10-in.	6/27/1941	Trouble in mind	Lucky Millinder Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	69438	10-in.	6/27/1941	Slide, Mr. Trombone	Lucky Millinder Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	69439	10-in.	6/27/1941	Ride, Red, ride	Lucky Millinder Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	69440	10-in.	6/27/1941	Rock, Daniel-1	Lucky Millinder Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	69441	10-in.	6/27/1941	That's all	Lucky Millinder Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	74098		10/3/1947	Don't hesitate too long	Lucky Millinder Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	74099		10/3/1947	Tonight he sailed again	Lucky Millinder Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone
Decca	74100		10/3/1947	Bersark boogie (All the time Aff)	Lucky Millinder Orchestra		instrumentalist, trombone

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Robinson, Eli," accessed December 26, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112573.

Robinson, Eli. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112573.

"Robinson, Eli." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 26 December 2025.