Legendary Vancouver DJ Red Robinson passes away at age 86

Legendary Vancouver DJ Red Robinson passes away at age 86

by

His family said in a post: With deep sadness and broken hearts, we bring the news that our beloved Dad, Red Robinson, passed this morning at 8:15 am after a brief illness.

Published Apr 01, 2023  •  Last updated 3 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Vancouver DJ Red Robinson with the king of rock n roll, Elvis Presley. Robinson passed away April 1, 2023, his family announced.
Vancouver DJ Red Robinson with the king of rock n roll, Elvis Presley. Robinson passed away April 1, 2023, his family announced.

Red Robinson’s name was synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll in Vancouver.

He had Vancouver’s first rock and roll radio show on Nov. 13, 1954, when he was only 17 years old. He was MC of the first rock ‘n’ roll concert in the city  — Bill Haley — on June 27, 1956; MC of the Elvis Presley show at Empire Stadium on Aug. 31, 1957; and MC at the Beatles gig at Empire Aug. 22, 1964.

Blessed with incredible energy, he remained on the airwaves until he was 80. But his health had declined after the death of his wife Carole in 2020.

Saturday his family announced that Red had died after a short illness. He had turned 86 on March 30.

Vancouver DJ with Buddy Holly
Vancouver DJ with Buddy Holly Photo by Courtesy, Red Robinson Collection

Robert Gordon Robinson was born in Comox and moved with his family to east Vancouver when he was five. He fell in love with radio as a kid.

“I used to listen to Jack Cullen here in Vancouver,” said Robinson in 2017. “And he was just wild, he was all over the place. I thought man if I could do something like that I’d be the happiest camper on the planet. And I ended up doing it. Jack was my guideline, he was my mentor.”

Vancouver DJ Red Robinson with Fats Domino.
Vancouver DJ Red Robinson with Fats Domino. Photo by Courtesy, Red Robinson Collection

He broke into the radio biz with typical daring-do.

“Al Jordan had a teenage show in the afternoon on CJOR called Theme For Teens, and he took phone calls,” Robinson recalled.

“I noticed in The Vancouver Sun that Jimmy Stewart was in town, so I called Theme For Teens (and imitated him). ‘Oh, h-i-i-i Allan, it’s Jimmy Stewart.’ And they believed me.

Red Robinson with singer Johnny Cash.
Red Robinson with singer Johnny Cash. Photo by Alyn Edwards /Vancouver Sun

“I called in a couple of days later as Peter Lorre and it twigged on Al Jordan. He said ‘Did you do Jimmy Stewart?’ I said ‘Yeah.’ So he said ‘Come on down and be on the show.’ So I used to appear on his show, doing impersonations and little skits.

“Al left and program director Vic Waters said, ‘We had a discussion in management and we thought you should take (over the show).’ So I did.”

Robinson started off doing half an hour a day, and within six months was doing five hours. Rock ‘n’ roll was exploding, and Robinson rode the wave. He was so popular, 10,000 kids showed up at the Kitsilano Showboat to watch him spin records.

  1. Red Robinson urges a rowdy Vancouver crowd in 1964 to settle down so the Beatles can perform.

    Red Robinson urges a rowdy Vancouver crowd in 1964 to settle down so the Beatles can perform. Photo by Courtesy Red Robinson Collection

  2. Vancouver DJ Red Robinson with Fats Domino.

    Vancouver DJ Red Robinson with Fats Domino. Photo by Courtesy Red Robinson Collection

  3. Red Robinson with Buddy Holly.

    Red Robinson with Buddy Holly. Photo by Courtesy Red Robinson Collection

  4. Dec. 14, 1956: Red Robinson on station CJOR made an attempt to bring Elvis Presley to Vancouver when he obtained many thousands of signatures from his listeners requesting a visit.

    Dec. 14, 1956: Red Robinson on station CJOR made an attempt to bring Elvis Presley to Vancouver when he obtained many thousands of signatures from his listeners requesting a visit. The Province

  5. Red Robinson with the king of rock n roll, Elvis Presley.

    Red Robinson with the king of rock n roll, Elvis Presley. Photo by Courtesy Red Robinson Collection

  6. Red Robinson in the 1960s.

    Red Robinson in the 1960s. Photo by Submitted photo

  7. The C-FUN Good Guys in 1963: Top row, from left: Tom Peacock, Brian

    The C-FUN Good Guys in 1963: Top row, from left: Tom Peacock, Brian “Frosty” Forst. Middle row: Red Robinson, Ed Kargl. From row: Fred Latremouille, Al Jordan. PNG

  8. Red Robinson and Little Richard.

    Red Robinson and Little Richard. Photo by Courtesy Red Robinson Collection

  9. Red Robinson with singer Johnny Cash.

    Red Robinson with singer Johnny Cash. Photo by Alyn Edwards /Vancouver Sun

  10. June 27, 1956: Red Robinson (left) meets rock and roller Bill Haley before Haley's show at the Kerrisdale Arena - Vancouver's first rock and roll concert.

    June 27, 1956: Red Robinson (left) meets rock and roller Bill Haley before Haley’s show at the Kerrisdale Arena – Vancouver’s first rock and roll concert. Photo by John McGinnis /PNG

  11. Red Robinson in the midst of dancing teenagers at a CKWX radio remote to celebrate the Grand Re-opening of Brown Bros. Ford in 1958.

    Red Robinson in the midst of dancing teenagers at a CKWX radio remote to celebrate the Grand Re-opening of Brown Bros. Ford in 1958. Photo by Alyn Edwards /PNG

  12. Red Robinson pretends to broadcast live from the seat of an early dragster. He was a member of the Igniters Custom Car Club of Burnaby.

    Red Robinson pretends to broadcast live from the seat of an early dragster. He was a member of the Igniters Custom Car Club of Burnaby. Photo by Alyn Edwards /Vancouver Sun

  13. At the Granville House White Spot restaurant - (from left) Bobby Curtola, Ken Gurr and Red Robinson in 1985.

    At the Granville House White Spot restaurant – (from left) Bobby Curtola, Ken Gurr and Red Robinson in 1985. Photo by Submitted photo /Vancouver Sun

  14. Red Robinson at a function with 1990 inductee Bryan Adams.

    Red Robinson at a function with 1990 inductee Bryan Adams. Photo by Malcolm Parry /PNG

  15. Red Robinson with memorabilia from over the years, including this Ray Charles singing and head bobbing model, photographed here in Vancouver on July 28, 2009.

    Red Robinson with memorabilia from over the years, including this Ray Charles singing and head bobbing model, photographed here in Vancouver on July 28, 2009. Photo by Ian Smith /Vancouver Sun

  16. Red Robinson retired from CISL 650 in August 2017.

    Red Robinson retired from CISL 650 in August 2017.

  17. Red Robinson (left) and Revolver (Beatles tribute band) member during a preview 2014 Fair at the PNE Fairgrounds in Vancouver on Aug. 13, 2014.

    Red Robinson (left) and Revolver (Beatles tribute band) member during a preview 2014 Fair at the PNE Fairgrounds in Vancouver on Aug. 13, 2014. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

  18. Red Robinson's collection includes a giant teddy bear Elvis Presley's fans presented to Elvis on Aug. 31, 1957. Elvis gave it to Red.

    Red Robinson’s collection includes a giant teddy bear Elvis Presley’s fans presented to Elvis on Aug. 31, 1957. Elvis gave it to Red. Photo by John Mackie /PNG

  19. Red Robinson back in the driver's seat 40 years after he bought this 1976 Thunderbird new.

    Red Robinson back in the driver’s seat 40 years after he bought this 1976 Thunderbird new. Photo by Alyn Edwards /PNG

  20. Red Robinson and Rich Elwood ready for the ride in the 1955 Thunderbird at the front of the of Vancouver's 2015 St. Patrick Days Parade.

    Red Robinson and Rich Elwood ready for the ride in the 1955 Thunderbird at the front of the of Vancouver’s 2015 St. Patrick Days Parade. Photo by Alyn Edwards /Vancouver Sun

  21. JULY 28, 2009: Red Robinson (right) sold Bruce Allen his giant collection of Elvis records.

    JULY 28, 2009: Red Robinson (right) sold Bruce Allen his giant collection of Elvis records. Photo by Ian Smith /Vancouver Sun

  22. Red Robinson in Vancouver on March 29, 2017.

    Red Robinson in Vancouver on March 29, 2017. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

  23. Red Robinson in Vancouver on March 29, 2017.

    Red Robinson in Vancouver on March 29, 2017. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

  24. Radio DJ Red Robinson in his Vancouver office in 2017.

    Radio DJ Red Robinson in his Vancouver office in 2017. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

  25. Rock and roll radio legend Red Robinson taping his last radio show in 2017.

    Rock and roll radio legend Red Robinson taping his last radio show in 2017. PNG

  26. Red Robinson (sitting centre) surrounded by (clockwise from left) Doc Harris, Kent Kallberg, Ray Ramsay, Stirling Faux, John Tanner and Neil Soper at River Rock Casino in Richmond, May 31, 2022.

    Red Robinson (sitting centre) surrounded by (clockwise from left) Doc Harris, Kent Kallberg, Ray Ramsay, Stirling Faux, John Tanner and Neil Soper at River Rock Casino in Richmond, May 31, 2022. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

He was everywhere, doing radio, MC-ing shows and writing music columns for the newspapers. He had some great stories from the early days, when acts often toured in travelling shows with multiple artists.

He met, interviewed and befriended everybody, from Bill Haley to Buddy Holly to Johnny Cash and Elvis.

“The best gig I saw had to be Elvis,” he said. “There was nothing like it beforehand. He was the first guy to rent stadiums. I’d MCed shows, but standing in front of 20,000 people was nerve-racking.”

June 27, 1956. Vancouver disc jockey Red Robinson (left) meets rock and roller Bill Haley before Haley’s show at the Kerrisdale Arena – Vancouver’s first rock and roll concert. John McGinnis photo.
June 27, 1956. Vancouver disc jockey Red Robinson (left) meets rock and roller Bill Haley before Haley’s show at the Kerrisdale Arena – Vancouver’s first rock and roll concert. John McGinnis photo. Photo by John McGinnis /PNG

In 1959 he moved to Portland, and went on TV. But then, like Elvis, he was drafted into the U.S. army.

He came back to Canada in 1961 at CKWX. At various times he was a program director, had an advertising agency, and even promoted shows.

He teamed up with Les Vogt for a Roy Orbison tour, which did very well. So they gave Orbison a bonus, and Orbison was stunned: he said it was the first time any promoter had ever done that.

Red Robinson urges a rowdy Vancouver crowd in 1964 to settle down so the Beatles can perform.
Red Robinson urges a rowdy Vancouver crowd in 1964 to settle down so the Beatles can perform. Photo by Courtesy Red Robinson collection

Red’s early days in radio became the subject of a popular musical, Red Rock Diner, and he wrote or co-wrote several books, including Rockbound: Rock and Roll Encounters, Backstage Vancouver (with Greg Potter) and The Last Deejay (with Robin Brunet).

He was incredibly close with his wife Carole.

“We met in ’62,” he said. “It was a blind date, and instantly it happened. People that don’t believe in love at first sight are wrong — it was with me.”

Vancouver DJ Red Robinson and Little Richard.
Vancouver DJ Red Robinson and Little Richard.

The couple had three children. He is survived by his daughters Kellie and Cheri, and predeceased by Carole and his son Jeff.

Robinson was in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Order of British Columbia.

Red Robinson with memorabilia from over the years including this Ray Charles singing and head bobbing model, photographed here in Vancouver on July 28, 2009.
Red Robinson with memorabilia from over the years including this Ray Charles singing and head bobbing model, photographed here in Vancouver on July 28, 2009. Photo by Ian Smith /Vancouver Sun
Red Robinson in Vancouver, B.C., March 29, 2017.
Red Robinson in Vancouver, B.C., March 29, 2017. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

[email protected]

Support our journalism: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 per week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Join the Conversation

Leave a Comment