Robert "Red" Robinson (1937-2023) was a Canadian disc jockey who hosted Vancouver's first rock and roll radio show on November 13, 1954. Throughout his career, he worked for the Canadian radio stations CJOR, CKWX, and C-FUN and MC'ed shows for Elvis Presley and The Beatles. In 1959, he moved to Portland, Oregon for a brief stint on the television station KGW before he was drafted in the U.S. Army and returned to Vancouver in 1961 to work again in radio. Robinson was also a television host for multiple Canadian programs such as CBC-TV's "Let’s Go" from 1963-1966 and "Trivia Challenge" from 1979-1980. In addition, as part of the 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication (Expo 86) held in Vancouver, Robinson hosted "Legends Of Rock'n'Roll," a multi-day event featuring live interviews with over 40 musicians.
Scope and Contents
The Red Robinson Collection spans the years 1953 to 2014 and consists of a poster and program for the Red Robinson-inspired musical "Red Rock Diner," a poster commemorating The Beatles' first Canadian performance which was hosted by Red Robinson, an LP sleeve for the album "Twist with C-Fun," music surveys for the C-FUN radio station, digital audio files of radio interviews and airchecks by Robinson and other disc jockeys, and Digital Betacam videotapes of Robinson interviewing assorted musicians from the 1986 "Legends of Rock'n'Roll" event. Notable artists and disc jockeys featured in the collection include Barry Bowman, Chubby Checker, Jack Cullen, Fats Domino, Donovan, Alan Freed, Lesley Gore, Little Anthony, Mad Mel, Dave McCormick, Terry Moore, Ellie O'Day, Roy Orbison, The Righteous Brothers, Smokey Robinson, and The Temptations, as well as many others. The collection is arranged by format and provides a window into Red Robinson's long-lasting career as well as insight into the practices of disc jockeys.
Notes
Acquisition Note: The Red Robinson Collection was received by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a gift from Red Robinson on October 13, 2010, August 15, 2012 and May 10, 2015.
Citation: [Identification of Item], Red Robinson Collection, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Language Note: Collection is in English.
Processing Information: Processed by Lyndsey Godwin-Kresge, Audiovisual Archivist. Completed June 6, 2023. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual. Collection processed through a Museums for America grant from the IMLS.
Access
Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration Form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
