Ikey Robinson

Isaac L. "Banjo Ikey" Robinson (July 28, 1904 – October 25, 1990) was an American banjoist and vocalist.

Born in Dublin, Virginia, United States, Robinson moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1926, playing and recording with Jelly Roll Morton, Clarence Williams, and Jabbo Smith during 1928 and 1929. In 1929, Robinson recorded in Chicago with Georgia Tom, billed as The Hokum Boys. Their track, written by Dorsey, "I Had to Give Up Gym" was an early dirty blues song, sometimes described as hokum.

His groups included Ikey Robinson and his Band (w/ Jabbo Smith), The Hokum Trio, The Pods of Pepper, Windy City Five, and Sloke & Ike.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 28, 1904 (Dublin), Died October 25, 1990 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: banjo, guitar, tenor vocal, composer, leader, clarinet, lyricist, songwriter

Notes: Listed on some Columbia labels as Banjo Ikey Robison.

= 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 Audio
Victor BVE-38681 10-in. 6/13/1927 Dark alley Jazz Wizards ; Richard M. Jones Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-38682 10-in. 6/13/1927 Hollywood shuffle Jazz Wizards ; Richard M. Jones Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-38683 10-in. 6/13/1927 Good stuff Jazz Wizards ; Richard M. Jones Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-38684 10-in. 6/13/1927 Smoked meat blues Jazz Wizards ; Richard M. Jones Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-57249 10-in. 12/10/1929 It's all gone now Down Home Boys Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-57250 10-in. 12/10/1929 You do it Down Home Boys Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BSHQ-71939 10-in. 3/10/1932 Take me away from the river Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra ; Ikey Robinson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia [W]150379 10-in. 5/1/1930 I'm havin' my fun Alex Hill ; The Hokum Trio Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia [W]150380 10-in. 5/1/1930 You've had your way Alex Hill ; The Hokum Trio Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia [W]150381 10-in. 5/1/1930 He wouldn't stop doing it Alex Hill ; The Hokum Trio Instrumental trio, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia [W]150382 10-in. 5/1/1930 You're bound to look like a monkey when you get old Alex Hill ; The Hokum Trio Instrumental trio, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia W151278 10-in. 2/6/1931 You've had your way Pods of Pepper ; Ikey Robinson Instrumental ensemble, with scat singing vocalist, tenor vocal, composer, instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia W151279 10-in. 2/6/1931 Get off stuff Pods of Pepper ; Ikey Robinson Instrumental ensemble, with scat singing instrumentalist, banjo, composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia W151280 10-in. 2/6/1931 Gee, I hate to lose that girl Pods of Pepper ; Ikey Robinson Instrumental ensemble, with scat singing instrumentalist, banjo, composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia W151281 10-in. 2/6/1931 I was a good loser until I lost you Pods of Pepper ; Ikey Robinson Instrumental ensemble, with scat singing instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia W152463 10-in. 8/7/1933 The shim sham shimmy dance Lowland Singers ; Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia W152464 10-in. 8/7/1933 Organ grinder Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal trio instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia W152465 10-in. 8/7/1933 Chizzlin' Sam Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal duet instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia W152466 10-in. 8/7/1933 High society Lowland Singers ; Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
Columbia W152467 10-in. 8/7/1933 Mister, will you serenade? Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet songwriter, instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist, tenor vocal  
OKeh W403338 10-in. 11/16/1929 Gin mill blues The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
OKeh W403339 10-in. 11/16/1929 Walkin' the blues away The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
OKeh W403340 10-in. 11/16/1929 The folks downstairs The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
OKeh W403341 10-in. 11/16/1929 That's my business The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
OKeh W403342 10-in. 11/16/1929 Ain't goin' to beg you for that stuff The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
OKeh W403343 10-in. 11/16/1929 I'm going to get something from you The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick C2329 10-in. 9/20/1928 Skadatin-dee Sammy Stewart Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick C2747 10-in. 1/4/1929 Got butter on it Ikey Robinson Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
Brunswick C2748 10-in. 1/4/1929 Roses blues Ikey Robinson Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
Brunswick C2844 10-in. 1/22/1929 Ready hokum Ikey Robinson Band Instrumental ensemble, with vocal instrumentalist, banjo, leader  
Brunswick C2845 10-in. 1/22/1929 Mammy Moon Ikey Robinson Band Instrumental ensemble, with vocal instrumentalist, banjo, composer, leader  
Brunswick C2902 10-in. 2/1/1929 Pizen tea blues Ikey Robinson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, tenor vocal, lyricist, composer  
Brunswick C2903 10-in. 2/1/1929 Rockpile blues Ikey Robinson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, tenor vocal, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C2937 10-in. 2/9/1929 My four reasons Bull Fiddle Band ; Ikey Robinson Jazz/dance band, with vocal effects leader, composer  
Brunswick C2939 10-in. 2/9/1929 Rock me mama Bull Fiddle Band ; Ikey Robinson Jazz/dance band, with vocal effects leader, composer  
Brunswick C2953 10-in. 2/13/1929 You’ve had your way Bull Fiddle Band ; Ikey Robinson Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo leader, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C3030 10-in. 3/1/1929 Without a dime Ikey Robinson Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin), guitar, and piano vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick C3084 10-in. 3/8/1929 Same old blues Ikey Robinson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Gennett 13303 10-in. 12/15/1927 Good stuff Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 13304 10-in. 12/15/1927 Hollywood shuffle Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 38545 10-in. 9/5/1934 Ida, sweet as apple cider Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
Decca 38546 10-in. 9/5/1934 My gal Sal Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
Decca 38547 10-in. 9/5/1934 Gulf Coast blues Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
Decca 38552 10-in. 9/5/1934 I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
Decca 38781 10-in. 10/3/1934 Jazz it blues (Jazz me blues)-1 Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 38782 10-in. 10/3/1934 Somebody stole my gal Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 38783 10-in. 10/3/1934 Crazy blues Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 38784 10-in. 10/3/1934 Sugar blues Alabama Jug Band instrumentalist, banjo  
Decca 62637 10-in. 10/5/1937 Georgia man Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62638 10-in. 10/5/1937 All night blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62639 10-in. 10/5/1937 Away all the time Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62640 10-in. 10/5/1937 The stuff is here Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62641 10-in. 10/5/1937 Strewin' your mess Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62642 10-in. 10/5/1937 Fare Thee honey fare Thee well Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90057 10-in. 7/2/1935 Scrunch-Lo Ikey Robinson instrumentalist, banjo, clarinet  
Decca 90058 10-in. 7/2/1935 Sunshine Ikey Robinson vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, clarinet, banjo  
Decca 90059 10-in. 7/2/1935 A minor romp Ikey Robinson instrumentalist, banjo, clarinet  
Decca 90060 10-in. 7/2/1935 Swing it Ikey Robinson instrumentalist, clarinet, banjo  
Decca 90065 10-in. 7/3/1935 Christian soldiers Ikey Robinson vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, clarinet, banjo  
Decca 90715 10-in. 5/11/1936 New Dupree blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90716 10-in. 5/11/1936 Daddy let me lay it on you Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90717 10-in. 5/11/1936 New hot nuts Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90718 10-in. 5/11/1936 It must be love Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90719 10-in. 5/12/1936 I just want your stingaree Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90720 10-in. 5/12/1936 Black rider Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90721 10-in. 5/12/1936 I'll keep sittin' on it Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90722 10-in. 5/12/1936 Pigmeat blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90723 10-in. 5/12/1936 Trouble in mind Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90724 10-in. 5/15/1936 W.P.A. Blues Teddy Edwards instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90725 10-in. 5/15/1936 Louisiana Teddy Edwards instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90854 10-in. 9/4/1936 Was I drunk? Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90855 10-in. 9/4/1936 No second hand woman Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90856 10-in. 9/9/1936 Gravel in my bed-1 Red Nelson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90857 10-in. 9/9/1936 Gambling man Red Nelson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90858 10-in. 9/9/1936 The girl I left behind Red Nelson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90859 10-in. 9/9/1936 Who put these jinx on me? Red Nelson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90864 10-in. 9/10/1936 The boy in the boat Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90865 10-in. 9/10/1936 Sinking sun blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90868 10-in. 9/15/1936 Don't come over Stella Johnson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 90869 10-in. 9/15/1936 Hot nut swing Stella Johnson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91011 10-in. 12/7/1936 Little red wagon Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91012 10-in. 12/7/1936 Dan the back door man Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91013 10-in. 12/7/1936 Your hellish way Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91014 10-in. 12/7/1936 Marble stone blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91102 10-in. 1/28/1937 You don't know my mind Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91103 10-in. 1/28/1937 When my love comes down Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91104 10-in. 1/28/1937 Walking the street Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91105 10-in. 1/28/1937 Grandpa and Grandma Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91106 10-in. 1/28/1937 I'm so glad I'm 21 today Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91107 10-in. 1/28/1937 Toothache blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91225 10-in. 5/6/1937 Say pretty Mama Sloke and Ike instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91226 10-in. 5/6/1937 Slocum blues Sloke and Ike instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91227 10-in. 5/6/1937 Raggedy but right Sloke and Ike instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91229 10-in. 5/6/1937 Mistreated blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91255 10-in. 5/9/1937 New trouble in mind Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91256 10-in. 5/19/1937 Trouble in mind swing Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91257 10-in. 5/19/1937 Moonshine blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91258 10-in. 5/19/1937 Chocolate candy blues Sloke and Ike instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91259 10-in. 5/19/1937 Biscuit roller Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91545 10-in. 10/21/1938 The blues ain' t nothin' but...? Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91546 10-in. 10/21/1938 Dead man' s blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91547 10-in. 10/21/1938 Love sick blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 91548 10-in. 10/21/1938 My worried mind blues Georgia White instrumentalist, guitar  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Robinson, Ikey," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109807.

Robinson, Ikey. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109807.

"Robinson, Ikey." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109807

External Sources

Wikipedia: Ikey Robinson

Discogs: Ikey Robinson

Allmusic: Ikey Robinson

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Robinson, Ikey, 1904-1990 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no93033238

Wikidata: Ikey Robinson - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1524705

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/29106696

MusicBrainz: Ikey Robinson - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/979c2454-4a3c-4987-82e0-7444c19543a4

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.