Red Robinson
Red Robinson’s roots go back to the beginning of Rock ‘N Roll in Canada. He laid claim to being the first disc jockey to program the “new music” on a regular basis in Canada, and the first to play Elvis Presley records. In 1957, he was the MC of the Elvis Presley show at Vancouver’s Empire Stadium. In 1964, he MC-ed the first Beatles concert in Canada, also at Empire Stadium. In collaboration with Peggy Hodgins, he authored a book about the history of Rock ‘N Roll in Canada.
In 1980, Red hosted and produced the Gavin Report Convention in Vancouver, the first time that this prestigious event was held outside of the USA. As part of Expo 86, Red promoted “The Legends of Rock ‘N Roll”, and presented forty-one of the best of the Rock ‘N Roll giants at the Expo Theater. This 13-week series stands unprecedented for bringing together most of the Hall of Fame stars to one venue – among them Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis and the Righteous Brothers. Over the years, Red met and worked with countless major popular recording stars and taped interviews with over 650 personalities. In 1994, in Cleveland, he was elected as a pioneer disc jockey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – one of only three from Canada – and 90 overall.
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Red Robinson’s awards and accolades are many and varied:
- 1956 Disc Jockey of the Northwest – Province newspaper poll
- 1969 Broadcast Performer of the Year – B.C. Association of Broadcasters
- 1981 Inducted into the CAB Quarter-Century Club – Can. Assoc of Broadcasters
- 1991 The Record Magazine’s second inductee to its Broadcaster Hall of Fame
- 1991 Recipient, North Vancouver Centennial Award “100 Distinguished Citizens”
- 1992 Recipient of “Canada 125” Achievement Medal – Government of Canada
- 1994 Appointed a “Vancouver Museum Honourary Ambassador” on its centennial
- 1994 Inducted into “Entertainment Hall of Fame” – his name in “STARWALK”
- 1994 elected into Rock `N Roll Hall of Fame – Cleveland, Ohio
- 1997 elected into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame
- 2000 elected into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
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Red Rock Diner is the name of a musical created by Playwright Dean Regan (Patsy Cline – the musical). The play covers Red Robinson’s radio show in the late fifties. It has played in Vancouver 4 times throughout BC., Toronto, Windsor and other Canadian cities plus Kansas City Missouri. Red’s Red Rock Diner radio show, reflects the musical and brings back all the great memories of cruisin’ in classic cars and listening to the radio. Red tells stories, interviews the artists and presents the greatest hits of the 50s, 60s and 70’s. If you have been missing something on your radio you will find it at AM 650 and the Red Rock Diner! Today, Red continues to host The Red Rock Diner on Vancouver’s AM650 “All-Time Favourites”, every Sunday from noon – 4pm.