Bobby Robinson is a prominent African-American independent record producer in New York, most active from the 1950s through the mid-1980s. He established several highly successful record labels and produced records that sold in the millions. Robinson moved to New York and opened Bobby’s Record Shop (now Bobby’s Happy House) in 1946. His was the first black-owned business on Harlem’s famed 125th Street. Located on the corner of 125th St. and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, formerly 8th Avenue, his shop is still in business. In the 1950s and 1960s, he established several record labels, some in partnership with his brother, Danny Robinson. Having enjoyed healthy local sales with Doo-Wop and Blues discs on his Robin and Red Robin labels in the early to mid-1950s, he launched Fire and Fury as vehicles for Rhythm and Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll artists, most of which were produced by him in New York, Robinson produced numerous hit records, including ‘Kansas City’ by Wilbert Harrison, ‘Ya Ya’ by Lee Dorsey, King Curtis’ ‘Soul Twist,’ and Gladys Knight & the Pips’ ‘Every Beat of My Heart. Robinson also produced several of Elmore James’ greatest records and was later one of the first producers to record Rap and Hip-Hop.

— (Blues Foundation press release, 2006.)