The 8th Annual Alabama Music Awards Lifetime Achievement winner, Roscoe Robinson was born May 22, 1928 and currently resides in Birmingham, AL. His career spans several decades and has brought him acclaim in both gospel and R&B genres.

Roscoe Robinson is one of the last of the great long serving ‘shout singers’. Robinson combines a high energy soul and a voice that peels from generations and decades of emotions. A mix of gospel, funk, soul, and old school rock adds to Mr. Robinson’s main
ingredients.

His musical career began with gospel in 1946 as member of the Royal Quartet, but just two years later he found himself a part of three musical groups simultaneously (Highway QC’s, the Kelly Brothers, and the Northfolk Singers). During this same time, Mr. Robinson was asked to be Sam Cooke’s replacement for the Southern Sons, while Mr. Cooke remained with their original group, the Highway QC’s. Mr. Robinson continued on solely with the Southern Sons as the group began to record gospel songs.

Towards the end of 1950, while the US participated in the Korean War, Robinson was called to serve in the United States Army. While a part of the 505 Airborne Group based in Columbus, GA, Robinson continued to sing, even starting a group on base that won first place in a singing competition. After completing his time in the army, Mr. Robinson married and became a father.

In 1956 Mr. Robinson joined the Silver Quintet where he began recording again. While with the group, he was asked to be a part of the Five Blind Boys although he himself was not blind. While he was singing with the Blind Boys, Roscoe wrote “Somewhere There’s A God ” which was recorded by the Womack Bros. The secularized version, “Somewhere There’s A Girl” was recorded by The Valentinos and also by Sam Cooke.

The group needing another lead vocal to share the songs with, Mr. Robinson agreed and went on tour with the group. During his time with the group Mr. Robinson recorded six singles over the next three years, and was even once billed as Roscoe Robinson and the Blind Boys before moving into the rhythm and blues (R&B) era as a solo artist. Mr. Robinson made over 25+ singles of R&B music, frequently crossing back over to gospel during 1980’s while still performing with Five Blind Boys of Mississippi.

After many years with the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Mr. Robinson joined the Blind Boys of Alabama, which earned him another induction into the American Quartet Hall of Fame. Mr. Robinson was also honored by the Birmingham Record Collectors on August 21, 2005 by being inducted into the Birmingham Record Collectors Music Hall of Fame.

The first R&B song Mr. Robinson recorded was titled, “What Makes A Man Do Wrong,” in 1964. Two years later, he recorded “That’s Enough” which landed at the number seven spot on the Billboard R&B charts after 13 weeks. Mr. Robinson also had two other hits on the Billboard Charts “How Much Pressure (Do You Think I Can Stand)”and “Do it Now.” With the success of the singles, Mr. Robinson could not ignore his love for gospel music, therefore returning to gospel in 1967 as a member of the Soul Stirrers.

He recorded well into the 2000’s where for his many musical accomplishments he earned the City of Gary Indiana Proclamation on August 21, 2015. Mr. Roscoe Robinson is a musical pioneer and has earned his place in musical history as a legend