COUNT RABBIT - BMHOF CLASS OF 1996

Robert "Count Rabbit" Robinson was a Buffalo, New York, blues legend. He was born in Pittsburgh in 1932, but moved to Buffalo with his family when he was eight. Music was in his blood – his mother sang in the famous “Butterbeans and Susie” minstrel troupe. By the time he was a teenager, Robinson was already playing guitar and singing on the streets with his brother Skip. 

Robinson's music was heavily influenced by the sounds of the Mississippi Delta blues he heard on the radio growing up. He developed his own unique style, a blend of traditional blues with a bit of rock and roll thrown in. Robinson's music was raw and soulful, and his lyrics often told stories of hard times and everyday struggles. 

In the 1950s, Robinson began performing at local clubs in Buffalo. He quickly gained a following for his electrifying live shows. In 1959, he formed a duet with another local bluesman, Eugene "Big Gino" Washington. Robert and Gino became a popular act in the Buffalo blues scene, and they even recorded a few singles together.

Despite his talent and popularity, Robinson never achieved national fame. He continued to play in Buffalo clubs and bars throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He also did some touring, but mostly in the Northeast. 

In the 1980s, there was a renewed interest in the blues, and Robinson began to get some recognition for his work. He was featured in a documentary about the Buffalo blues scene, and he released his first solo album in 1983. 

Robinson continued to perform and record music until his death in 2011 at 78 years old. His career highlights included a performance at the prestigious Buffalo Jazz Festival in 1989, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Buffalo Blues Society in 2008, and three solo albums: Count Rabbit (1983), Bluesman (1994), and Live at Nietzsche's (2000).