History

Dutch Robinson is a voice to be reckoned with. From the South Bronx of New York to the rock strewn shores of the Bay of Fundy, Dutch Robinson’s musical path has been a long and winding one. As lead singer of the legendary R&B group, The Ohio Players, Dutch toured, recorded and appeared on Soul Train and The Tonight Show with the Players. He co-wrote their material, and incidentally performed the Ohio Player version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow requested at Judy Garland’s funeral.

Dutch eventually left the Players. His first solo album, Nothin’s Got Me (United Artists Records, 1977), laid low until October, 2002 when Grammy-award winning Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, samples the title track on Thug World Order. The song, Money, Money, has been featured on Soul Train, Jenny Jones, BET Rap City and Much Music Vibes.

After having worked with the likes of Tommy Motolla, Daryl Hall, John Oates,
Melba Moore, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, and Curtis Mayfield, it’s hard to imagine why Dutch shifted gears and sought a new start in Canada.

He became involved in the Black Theatre Workshop in Montreal, and worked with Famous People Players in Toronto. Dutch appeared on Electric Circus, Due South, Black Harbor, Canada AM, and Treehouse’s Ants In Your Pants. You can hear Dutch also on Cirque du Soleil’s Grammy nominated album, Alegria and the Due South Soundtrack, Volume 2.

His 5-octave voice makes the ladies scream. Singer of singers and songwriter of songs, there is only one Dutch Robinson. Yet he has paid tribute to soul giant Marvin Gaye in a way no one else would even dare. In the early 1990s, Dutch starred in Dream of A Lifetime, a musical theatrical production about the life of Marvin Gaye, featured in New York, Montreal, Toronto, and at the Bernard Shaw Theatre, in London, England.

Links to the Maritimes were part of Dutch¹s career long before he moved to Nova Scotia in 1998, headlining in 1992 at the Cohn’s International Gospel Festival, along with the Winans, Staple Singers, Odetta, and Etta James. Special guest performer on Hallelujah (1996-97), Dutch touched the hearts of people across the province. Dutch is particularly well known for his performance of the title track of Joe Sealy’s Africville Suite, written by Dan Hill and also his featured spot in Africville, an Adrienne Clarkson’sCBC special.

Dutch performed with the Nova Scotia Mass Choir, including a concert with Nova Scotia Symphony at the Rebecca Cohn in 1993, and again at Brookes Diamond’s Jubilee 2000, where he received a 10,000 person standing ovation at the Halifax Metro Center.

Dutch currently performs with Drum! celebrating the life beat and spirit of the drum, as born in the cultures of Native America, Africa, and Celtic Scotland.

There is no doubt; the East Coast has been feeling the impact of this larger-than-life voice and spirit. And, he’s not slowing down. He’s back!

Professional Awards and Nominations

2004 Best Urban Single (I Took the Long Way Home)
2004 Best African-Canadian Recording (Only Me);
2001 Best African-Canadian Recording (Come On Home)

African Nova Scotian Music Awards
2003 Entertainer of the Year (I Took the Long Way Home);
2003 Best R&B Album (Only Me)

Award Nominations
2003 ANSMA Artist/Group of the Year
2003 ANSMA Best Jazz Artist
2003 ANSMA R&B Artist
2003 MIANS Entertainer of the Year
2003 MIANS Best Urban Artist