Red Robinson
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Red Robinson (born March 30, 1937 in Comox, British Columbia) was the first disc jockey to play Rock and Roll music, in Vancouver, British Columbia
- While still in high school in 1954, Robinson started working as a disc jockey at the age of 16 at radio station CJOR. His first record 'spun' as a professional DJ was Marie by The Four Tunes. He was one of the first DJs to play Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and other Rock and Roll artists on a regular basis in Canada.
- 1956 - Winner of Disc Jockey of the Northwest" award from The Province Newspaper in an audience poll.
-1956 - Appeared frequently as guest host on the CBC Television network program "Cross Canada Hit Parade".
- Red was emcee for the Elvis Presley show at Empire Stadium in Vancouver in 1957 and for the Beatles in 1964. ==FACT== Red and Murray "The K" are the ONLY entertainers to emcee for BOTH these Iconic acts.
- Not content to just be on the air - Red also became program director of two Vancouver radio stations, CFUN 1962-1968 and CJOR from 1968-to-1970.
- Over the years, Robinson worked at many radio and TV stations in Vancouver and Portland, including CKWX, KGW radio, KGW-TV, CFUN, and the CBC, AM 650 (twice) as well as 104.9 FM.
- *Red served in the U.S. Army until his honourable discharge.
- Red has co-authored 2 books "Rockbound" and "Backstage Vancouver". Rockbound is Red's personal accounts of early rock and roll. "Backstage Vancouver" looks at the rich history of entertainment in Red's home town.
- Red hosted "Red's Classic Theatre" each Sunday at 9 p.m. for 12.5 years on KVOS. The program was seen from Vancouver to Seattle. On this program he interviewed Tony Curtis, Charlton Heston, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney and others. In total he hosted 618 shows
- Red hosted the first television show dedicated to Trivia on CBC Television for three years. This show inspired 3 panelists to create Trivial Pursuit. The name Trivia as applied to a board game had already been copyrighted by Red and his business partner Jan Nablo.
- In 1995 Red and a host of pioneer deejays were feted at the opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of a select group elected by his peers in radio and records. - Red was feature writer for 20 years for Vancouver's number one entertainment magazine TV Week.
-1976-1996 Host of Regional Network of CBC Television Annual "Timmy's Christmas Telethon" - Twenty awards from B.C. Lions Society for Children with Disabilities, for helping raise over $75 million.
- Robinson was also a partner in the Vancouver advertising agency Vrlak-Robinson. The agency was doing over 35 million dollars in business when Red retired from the agency business. Red had ventured into the ad business at an earlier time ( 1967) but when asked to move to CJOR, Jim Pattison insisted that he sell-off his business and dedicated his energies to the radio station. At the time Robinson had become the first agency for McDonald's restaurants first entry into Canada. He not only did the advertising for McDonald's . Not only did he become the 1st agency for the food chain he created their first regional commercial and appeared in it.
- Playwright Dean Regan wrote a play about Red's early days in rock and roll and titled it "Red Rock Diner". It played for a long run twice in Vancouver also in Toronto and Kansas City plus a myriad of other cities in Canada.
- Recently Red was called upon to emcee the Michael Bublé wedding reception held in Vancouver. The prestigious affair saw the likes of David Foster, Jann Arden, and Russell Peters in attendance.
- Some additional awards.
- Red received the Canada 125 medal for contributions to the community over the years. Senator Ed Lawson presented it to Red on Timmys' Christmas Telethon.
- On July 21, 1994 Red Robinson was officially inducted into the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame and his name is now in cement in front of the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.
- In April 1997 at the annual convention of Rotary Red was presented with the Toastmaster's International community and leadership award."
- Red was honored with a floor in the Lions International Children's building for his contributions to the Children with disabilities through his hosting duties on 23 Timmy's Telethons.
- Red helped raise over $100 million dollars to Children with Disabilities on the annual Timmy's Telethon which ran for 23 years.
- May 14th 1998 was the date Red received the ShowCanada Showmanship Award - This award was presented by movie exhibitors and distributors from acorss Canada.
- In March 1987 Red's colleagues in the broadcast business created a scholarship in his name at the British Columbia Institute of technology in the broadcast division.
- As part of Expo '86 Red Robinson promoted the "Legends of Rock and Roll"and presented 41 of the best of the rock and roll world. This was a 13 week series.
- In 1991 Red was selected by the District of North Vancouver Centennial commission as one of the District's 100 distinquished citizens.
- In 1991 the Province of British Columbia made Red Robinson their official ambassador for a tourism initiative titled "Music '91" which took Red around the province promoting and emceeing shows for Linda Ronstadt, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Jan& Dean", and a host of other entertainment giants.
- On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth's birthday Red was among a select group given a gold medal in honor of this historic event. It was the Queen's Golden Jubilee award.
- In 2006 Red's home town of Comox inducted Red into the Comox Valley walk of achievement. Kim Cattrall is among those honored by the walk.
- In 2008 Sarah McLachlan presented Red with the Vancouver Music Industry Bruce Allen/Sam Feldman Legend award.
- The British Columbia Association of Broadcasters in 1989 presented Red with an honor as a Broadcast Pioneer.
- In 2008 the Pacific National Exhibition named their annual talent search in Red's honor. It was called the Red Robinson talent search.
[edit] More Honors
- B.C. Heart Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Talmud Torah School of Vancouver, Haddassah-Wizo Organization of Canada, B.C. Kidney Foundation, Kinsmen Rehabilitation Foundation of B.C., Vancouver Aquarium Society, Kompufind Kidfinders Foundation of B.C., B.C. Lions Alumni Association, Award of Merit Expo 86, Broadcast Pioneers Honour Roll - B.C.I.T., Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame.
- In 1997, Robinson was elected to the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame.
- In 2000, Robinson was elected to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
- In 2006, the Red Robinson Show Theatre was named in Robinson's honour. Among those attending the gala opening were disc jockey Wink Martindale, entertainer Peter Reveen, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President Terry Stewart, while Paul Revere and the Raiders and Bill Medley (of The Righteous Brothers) provided the entertainment. Robinson makes regular appearances to meet with the audience prior to many performances at the theatre.
- In 2007 Red Robinson became a member of the nominating committee of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
- In October, 2011 - Red was awarded "Doorman of the Year" - by the Vancouver Hoteliers Association, for his relentless promotion of Vancouver and it's talent, and welcoming spirit.
