45 HORSEPOWER 04/23/23: Red Robin Records, Part 1 (Harlem Doo-Wop, R&B & Blues 1951-54)

Rounder finally takes a shot at covering the sprawling discography of Harlem's late great record man/producer/record shop owner/cultural landmark, Bobby Robinson! One of the first black owners of an American indie label, Bobby produced some high-quality examples of popular sounds in Harlem at the dawn of the fifties. Underground doo-wop as performed by local teens-turned-local-legends like The Vocaleers; heartworn blues courtesy of transplanted Southerners like the snakebit prizefighter Champion Jack Dupree and good friends Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee; and after years of trying, a #1 national pop hit! We also do a brief check-in on our old friend George Goldner from the Tico Records episode.

This is part one of the full broadcast, follow ahead to part two!