Eric Robinson (conductor)

Eric Robinson (13 December 1908 24 July 1974) was a conductor and presenter of music for the BBC.

During the war, Eric Robinson served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps: in 1943, he was with the depot band at Chilwell Central Ordnance Depot, and conducted "The Blue Rockets", a section of the band who provided light music. He was twice the musical director of the Eurovision Song Contest when staged in London in 1960 and 1963 and on other occasions between 1957 and 1965, Robinson conducted the orchestra accompanying the United Kingdom's entry in the competition.

In 1962, he provided the financial support and backing for the Mellotron tape-replay keyboard, and was heavily involved in the original marketing and promotion. He hoped the popularity of a new and novel instrument would revitalise his career.[1]

Robinson's elder brother Stanford Robinson (1904–84) was a popular conductor and composer.[2]

His daughter Vivienne Robinson married the magician David Nixon in 1961.[3] He died 24 July 1974 aged 65.[4]

References

  1. Awde, Nick (2008). Mellotron : The Machines and the Musicians that Revolutionised Rock. Bennett & Bloom. p. 44–46. ISBN 978-1-898948-02-5.
  2. "Mr Eric Robinson", The Times, 25 July 1974, p. 20
  3. Pickles, Keith. "The Life and Career of David Nixon". Bradford Magic Circle. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008.
  4. "Musician dies". The Guardian. 24 July 1974. p. 1.
Media offices
Preceded by
Franck Pourcel
Eurovision Song Contest conductor
1960
Succeeded by
Franck Pourcel
Preceded by
Jean Roderès
Eurovision Song Contest conductor
1963
Succeeded by
Kai Mortensen


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.