b. Vicki Sue Robinson, 31st May 1954, Harlem, New York, U.S.A.
d. 27th April 2000, Wilton, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Born in Harlem (or Philadelphia) in 1954, Robinson's birth was the result of a union between a black actor and white folk singer.
Her professional debut was at the Philadelphia Folk Festival when she was 6.
Her diverse heritage was also reflected in her wide ranging love of different types of music performers.
Her favorites included Dinah Washington, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Laura Nyro, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee and Sarah Vaughn.
As a teenager, Robinson appeared in the Broadway hit, 'Hair', and having been discovered by Robert Stigwood (RSO Records, The Bee Gees) she joined the cast of 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.
Her varied career include stints as a model, waitress and recording with Japanese artists Sadistic Mica Band and Itsuru Shimoda and working at Ms. Magazine.
vicki sue robinson - 1976 / never gonna let you go - 1976 / half and half - 1978 / movin' on - 1979
Signed to RCA Records in the mid '70's by producer Warren Schatz, she had four albums on the imprint, 'Never Gonna Let You' (spring 1976), 'Vicki Sue Robinson' (fall 1976), 'Half and Half' (1978) and 'Movin' On' (1979).
'Turn The Beat Around,' written by Pete and Gerald Jackson (of the group Touch Of Class) reached number 10 Pop on Billboard's Pop chart in summer 1976, earning Robinson a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female.
Her other favorites include her cover of Bobby Womack's 'Daylight' and 'Hold Tight.'
Her movie roles include 'Going Home' with Robert Mitchum in 1971 and 1972's 'To Find A Man with Lloyd Bridges'.
In between being an in-demand jingles singer, Robinson starred in her own 1999 off-Broadway play, 'Vicki Sue Robinson: Behind The Beat'.
Her voice could be heard on jingles for brands such as Maybelline, Downey and CoverGirl.
The play was a continuation of her popular, enticing cabaret show.
She happily made the TV talk show circuit, inviting everyone to the show and joyously performed her signature song, 'Turn The Beat Around'.
A strong, vibrant vocalist, Robinson's records were among some of the best produced and arranged '70's disco releases with solid beats built on solid songs.
Vicki died on the 27th April 2000 after a battle with cancer. She was 46.
Albums:
Never Gonna Let You Go (RCA Records 1976)
Vicki Sue Robinson (RCA Records 1976)
Half & Half (RCA Records 1978)
Movin' On (RCA Records 1979)
Turn the Beat Around (Unidiscs Records 1991)
Hot Summer Night (Unidiscs Records 1994)
House of Joy (Pagodas Records 1997)
Move On (Groovilicious Records 1999)
