Harlem music icon Bobby Robinson passed away last week at the age of 93 and many have been commemorating his life by dropping by the former site of Bobby's Happy House just north of 125th Street (above photo taken today). Mr. Robinson was one of the first African Americans in Harlem to actually own a business when he started up the shop at number 301 West 125th Street (which eventually moved around the corner to 2335 FDB) and that establishment would stay open for over six decades. The flamboyant shop owner eventually decided to also be a part of the music industry, would produce early works by such greats as Tina Turner and then sell the albums at his store. Other notable acts founded at the Happy House included Gladys Knight and James Brown was said to have dropped by often.
There are more details on Bobby Robinson's life in the New York Time's obituary page this week but the article doesn't accurately touch on the current status of the old storefront that was shuttered in 2008:
LINK. The Times states that an office building was taking over the former record store but the shopping center developers who own the property have plans to demolish the 110-year-old structures on that corner of FDB in order to build a modern complex for interested big box retailers:
LINK
Mr. Robinson deserves a star on the Apollo walk of fame, he may not have been a well known performer but was an important part in the careers of many legendary music artists whose songs can define an era, and he is also an essential part of the history of Harlem, 125th street and the Apollo Theater. I remember seeing the dapper Mr. Robinson by his store many times.
ReplyDeleteRight now on 90.3 Fm they are doing a tribute to "Bobby". Apparently he is responsible for artists like Doug E Fresh and Mariah Carey an still had his record store until Janary of 2008.With out Harelm + Bespoke I would have had no clue who this amazing person was
ReplyDelete