The Robins
Biography
Los Angeles vocal group the Robins are best remembered today as the forerunner of the Coasters, though their own record of hits was substantial in its own right. What's more, their history is a lot more complicated than most fans of the Coasters are aware, and can be divided into two key phases. The Robins' roots go back to Alameda High School in San Francisco, in 1945. That year, tenor Terrell Leonard (aka Ty Terrell) joined with baritone siblings Billy Richards and Roy Richards to form what was known originally as the A-Sharp Trio, doing repertoire that showed the distinct influence of the Golden Gate Quartet, the Nat King Cole Trio, and the Delta Rhythm Boys, among other established harmony groups of the period. They moved to Los Angeles and found lots of work in the area around Watts, but their first break came when they placed second in a competition at the Barrelhouse Club, owned by bandleader Johnny Otis, who hired them to perform on weekends. It was at the Barrelhouse Club that they crossed paths with bass/baritone Bobby Nunn, who did odd jobs around the place in between singing, waiting for his break. That moment came when Otis thought to turn the trio into a quartet, and see if they couldn't cut in on some of the audience that was coalescing around the rival group the Ravens. . Los Angeles vocal group the Robins are best remembered today as the forerunner of the Coasters, though their own record of hits was substantial in its own right. What's more, their history is a lot more complicated than most fans of the Coasters are aware, and can be divided into two key phases. The Robins' roots go back to Alameda High School in San Francisco, in 1945. That year, tenor Terrell Leonard (aka Ty Terrell) joined with baritone siblings Billy Richards and Roy Richards to form what was known originally as the A-Sharp Trio, doing repertoire that showed the distinct influence of the Golden Gate Quartet, the Nat King Cole Trio, and the Delta Rhythm Boys, among other established harmony groups of the period. They moved to Los Angeles and found lots of work in the area around Watts, but their first break came when they placed second in a competition at the Barrelhouse Club, owned by bandleader Johnny Otis, who hired them to perform on weekends. It was at the Barrelhouse Club that they crossed paths with bass/baritone Bobby Nunn, who did odd jobs around the place in between singing, waiting for his break. That moment came when Otis thought to turn the trio into a quartet, and see if they couldn't cut in on some of the audience that was coalescing around the rival group the Ravens.
Top Albums |
1. Rock & R..
| 2. Doo Wop Best..
| 3. Johnny Otis ..
| 4. The Robins V..
| 5. Riot In Cell..
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6. The Robins
| 7. Oh No [Digit..
| 8. Just Like Th..
| 9. Smokey Joe's..
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Top Songs |
| Name | Album | Time | Price | |
1. | Smokey Joe's Cafe | Top 100 Classics - The Very.. | 2:42 | $0.69 | |
2. | Smokey Joe's Cafe | Keep Calm and Carry On - 12.. | 2:46 | $0.99 | |
3. | Smokey Joe's Cafe | Best Doo Wop Collection Eve.. | 2:42 | $0.99 | |
4. | Double Crossing Blues | Great Pop Songs of All Time.. | 2:46 | $0.99 | |
5. | Johnny | Sixties - Lost Songs of the.. | 2:54 | $0.99 | |
6. | Turkey Hop | Turkey Day Spectacular! Tha.. | 2:42 | $0.99 | |
7. | Around About Midnight | Blues! Blast from the Past .. | 2:45 | $0.99 | |
8. | Smokey Joe's Cafe | Rhythm and Blues of the 50&.. | 2:45 | $0.99 | |
9. | School Girl Blues | Jive R&B, Vol. 2 | 3:01 | $0.99 | |
10. | Riot In Cell Block No. 9 | Leiber-Stoller Songbook | 3:05 | $0.99 | |
11. | Smokey Joe's Cafe | Leiber-Stoller Songbook | 2:48 | $0.99 | |
12. | Down In Mexico | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 3:18 | $0.99 | |
13. | Just Like A Fool | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:56 | $0.99 | |
14. | Smokey Joe's Cafe | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:48 | $0.99 | |
15. | Hatchet Man | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:33 | $0.99 | |
16. | I Must Be Dreamin' | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:20 | $0.99 | |
17. | I Love Paris | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:29 | $0.99 | |
18. | One Kiss | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:51 | $0.99 | |
19. | Whadya Want? | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:31 | $0.99 | |
20. | If Teardrops Were Kisses | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:48 | $0.99 | |
21. | Framed | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:48 | $0.99 | |
22. | Loop De Loop Mambo | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:17 | $0.99 | |
23. | Wrap It Up | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 2:49 | $0.99 | |
24. | Riot In Cell Block Number Nine | US Singles Collection 1954-.. | 3:05 | $0.99 | |
25. | Gonna Have A Merry Christmas | Christmas Doo-Wop (Collecti.. | 3:02 | $0.99 | |