Robert "Red" Robinson OBC (born March 30, 1937)
(CANADIAN PRESS) – VANCOUVER — The family of Vancouver
radio personality Red Robinson says he has died after a brief
illness.
In a statement posted online, Robinson’s family says he passed
away on Saturday, April 1st, shortly after 8 a.m.
Robinson began his radio career in 1954 at Vancouver’s CJOR,
and his website credits him as the first DJ in Canada to play
rock ’n’ roll music on a regular basis.
It says Red jumped to Vancouver CKWX station in 1957, where
he met American singer Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley.
His website says he was elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1994, the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1997
and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000, retiring from radio
in 2007.
In 1959, Robinson took a job with KGW Radio in Portland, OR,
on the condition that he also host a TV show. He got his wish,
hosting Portland Bandstand on KGW TV. However, because
of American draft laws, he was also required to do a six-month
stint in the US Army at Fort Ord in California.
Red in 1955
Red with Buddy Holly
Red Robinson with Elvis Presley in 1957.
Red Robinson in the booth at KGW, radio ‘62’ in Portland, Or.
