J. Russel Robinson

Joseph Russel Robinson (July 8, 1892 – September 30, 1963) was an American jazz, ragtime, dixieland, and blues pianist and composer. He was a member of the Original Dixieland Jass Band.

He was the jazz composer who wrote the jazz and pop standard "Margie" and the Grammy Hall of Fame inductee "Singin' the Blues".

Career Robinson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. In his teens he worked as a pianist in theaters to provide music for silent movies. With a right arm that was damaged by polio, he formed unusual techniques with his left hand. His compositions were published as piano rolls by Imperial, the United Music Company, and QRS. He signed a contract with QRS to record blues songs from 1918 to 1921.

Selected Discography

Source:

Original Dixieland Jazz Band- Margie (1920), Victor Original Dixieland Jazz Band- Palesteena (1920), Victor Aileen Stanley- Singin' the Blues (1920), Victor Bessie Smith and the Down Home Trio- Aggravatin' Papa (1923), Victor Bessie Smith and the Down Home Trio- Beale Street Mamma (1923), Columbia Ted Weems Orchestra- Blue Eyed Sally (1924), Victor Ted Lewis Jazz Band- Eccentric (1924), Victor Joe Candullo and His Orchestra & Irving Kaufman- Go Wash an Elephant (If You Want to Do Something Big) (1927), Columbia Seger Ellis- Memories of France (1928), Columbia Claude Jones, Harlan Lattimore, & Connie's Inn Orchestra- Reefer Man (1932), Columbia Benny Goodman Orchestra- Margie (1938), Victor

Awards and honors "Singin' the Blues" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in a 1927 recording by Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra featuring Bix Beiderbecke on cornet.