Reginald Robinson
Encyclopedia
Reginald R. Robinson is a noted composer and performer of ragtime
music. In 2004, he received a MacArthur Genius Grant. He was raised by working class parents in Chicago
, for many years living in the Henry Horner Homes
, a South Side housing project. He has absolute pitch
.
". This piece intrigued him because, although he had heard it played many times over by ice-cream trucks, he had never considered it as a serious musical work. Robinson wanted to learn the piano, but his families finances only allowed for a small keyboard, which he began teaching himself how to play. In 1987, his mother bought a piano at an affordable price from a neighbor who was moving. He dropped out of school and spent the next three years teaching himself how to compose and write music.
In 1988, Robinson got a job and paid for a few lessons with Professor Theodore Bargman at the American Conservatory of Music in downtown Chicago. He also briefly studied sightreading with a young pianist named Steve Slowik at a south side piano retail shop. Robinson found it easier to teach himself the intricacies of ragtime music, which by this time he had been playing efficiently.
In 1989, he began composing the pieces that would constitute his debut album The Strong Man. In 1992, Robinson went to Jobs for Youth/Chicago
to get a GED, and his teacher, Chris Lynch, introduced him to another then-staff member, Mac Olsen, who was a musician as well. Olsen was intrigued with Robinson's musical scoring and compositions and soon after introduced him to jazz instrumentalist Ira Sullivan who set up a date for Mac to introduce Robinson to pianist Jon Weber
. Jon helped Robinson make a professional demo of his compositions and arranged for his first public performance at The Green Mill in September 1992. The demo was later used as part of Robinson's debut release the following year.
He released his first CD, The Strongman in 1993, followed by Sounds in Silhouette (1994), and Euphonic Sounds (1998). All three CD's were released on the Delmark Record label. Although these records garnered national praise from critics, they did not sell well, and Robinson had difficulty finding work. Through those hard times, Robinson was constantly at work on another project called Man Out of Time
In 2004, in the face of mounting financial difficulties, he nearly stopped playing the piano until learning that he had won the prestigious John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur "genius" Award. The award recognizes “talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.” Besides the award financing his continued playing, it boosted his profile in the jazz community and financed the release of his long awaited self work Man Out of Time (2006). In January 2010, Robinson released a 3 disc compilation called Reflections. This three disc set of over 60 original audio and visual performances features new recordings of many of Robinson's old and new works.
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
music. In 2004, he received a MacArthur Genius Grant. He was raised by working class parents in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, for many years living in the Henry Horner Homes
Henry Horner Homes
Henry Horner Homes was a Chicago Housing Authority public housing development. The development is located in Chicago's Near West Side at Damen Avenue and Lake Street near the United Center. The homes are named after former Illinois Governor Henry Horner...
, a South Side housing project. He has absolute pitch
Absolute pitch
Absolute pitch , widely referred to as perfect pitch, is the ability of a person to identify or re-create a given musical note without the benefit of an external reference.-Definition:...
.
Biography
Reginald Robinson's interest in older music started at home in 1984 with his older brother Marlando playing music on the guitar and listening to big band jazz recordings on chuck schaden's old time radio classics. Robinson's love for ragtime music came In 1986, when he was in seventh grade. Composer/trumpeter Orbert Davis visited his school with his group called From Bach To Bebop through Urban Gateways. They performed a variety of musical works including Scott Joplin's "The EntertainerThe Entertainer (rag)
"The Entertainer" is sub-titled "A rag time two step", which was a form of dance popular until about 1911, and a style which was common among rags written at the time.Its structure is: Intro AA BB A CC Intro2 DD....
". This piece intrigued him because, although he had heard it played many times over by ice-cream trucks, he had never considered it as a serious musical work. Robinson wanted to learn the piano, but his families finances only allowed for a small keyboard, which he began teaching himself how to play. In 1987, his mother bought a piano at an affordable price from a neighbor who was moving. He dropped out of school and spent the next three years teaching himself how to compose and write music.
In 1988, Robinson got a job and paid for a few lessons with Professor Theodore Bargman at the American Conservatory of Music in downtown Chicago. He also briefly studied sightreading with a young pianist named Steve Slowik at a south side piano retail shop. Robinson found it easier to teach himself the intricacies of ragtime music, which by this time he had been playing efficiently.
In 1989, he began composing the pieces that would constitute his debut album The Strong Man. In 1992, Robinson went to Jobs for Youth/Chicago
Jobs for Youth/Chicago
Jobs for Youth/Chicago, Inc. is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that helps young men and women from low income homes between the ages of 17 and 24 to prepare for, find, and keep jobs. Most of the youth JFY serves are from Chicago’s inner city...
to get a GED, and his teacher, Chris Lynch, introduced him to another then-staff member, Mac Olsen, who was a musician as well. Olsen was intrigued with Robinson's musical scoring and compositions and soon after introduced him to jazz instrumentalist Ira Sullivan who set up a date for Mac to introduce Robinson to pianist Jon Weber
Jon Weber
Jon Weber is a New York City and Chicago-based jazz pianist and composer whose compositions and performances have met critical and popular acclaim in many countries around the world...
. Jon helped Robinson make a professional demo of his compositions and arranged for his first public performance at The Green Mill in September 1992. The demo was later used as part of Robinson's debut release the following year.
He released his first CD, The Strongman in 1993, followed by Sounds in Silhouette (1994), and Euphonic Sounds (1998). All three CD's were released on the Delmark Record label. Although these records garnered national praise from critics, they did not sell well, and Robinson had difficulty finding work. Through those hard times, Robinson was constantly at work on another project called Man Out of Time
In 2004, in the face of mounting financial difficulties, he nearly stopped playing the piano until learning that he had won the prestigious John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur "genius" Award. The award recognizes “talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.” Besides the award financing his continued playing, it boosted his profile in the jazz community and financed the release of his long awaited self work Man Out of Time (2006). In January 2010, Robinson released a 3 disc compilation called Reflections. This three disc set of over 60 original audio and visual performances features new recordings of many of Robinson's old and new works.
Discography
- The Strongman (1993 – Delmark)
- Sounds in Silhouette (1994 – Delmark)
- Euphonic Sounds (1998 – Delmark)
- Man Out of Time (2007 – 88Pm)
- Reflections (2010 – 88Pm)