An occasional soloist,
Eli Robinson was a fine section trombonist with big bands. After growing up in Charleston, WV,
Robinson started playing trombone when he was 16. He played locally, relocated to Detroit in 1928, moved to Cincinnati in 1930 and played with territory bands such as those led by Alex Jackson, Frank Terry, Speed Webb and Zack Whyte. After working with
McKinney's Cotton Pickers,
Robinson worked and recorded with
Blanche Calloway in 1935. Moving to New York in 1936, he played with the big bands of
Willie Bryant and
Teddy Hill, plus
the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. The trombonist gigged with
Roy Eldridge in 1939, was part of Lucky Millinder's big band and then had his most famous association, playing with Count Basie's Orchestra from 1941-47.
Robinson had a later stint with
Millinder and was with Buddy Tate's Celebrity Orchestra for a long period that started in 1954 and lasted until near the end of his life.
Robinson recorded with Basie and with
Tate (1958) but never led his own record date. ~ Scott Yanow