Born: December 13th, 1908, Leeds, England (United Kingdom)
Died: July 24th, 1974, Hove, Brighton and Hove, England (United Kingdom)
Nationality: British
In due course, the short impression below will be replaced with a more extensive career overview
BIOGRAPHY
Eric Robinson studied the violin at the Royal College of Music, London. At 23, he joined the BBC as a violinist and became a member of the broadcaster’s regular TV orchestra. When normal broadcasting resumed during the latter half of World War II, Robinson was appointed conductor of the BBC Television Orchestra. Soon, he became a household name, mainly by virtue of the popular monthly show Music For You, highlighting light classical repertoire, which he both introduced and conducted. In 1952, the show was awarded with the Television Society’s Silver Medal. On top of that, he collaborated in countless other radio and TV broadcasts featuring the most popular vocalists of that time.
Eric Robinson tried his hand at film score composing in 1947 with ‘
Old Mother Riley’s New Venture. His elder brother Stanford Robinson (1904-1984), whose musical style was more classically orientated, was a composer and like his brother conducted for the BBC for many years.
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
In 1956, when the United Kingdom had originally planned to submit a song for the very first Eurovision Song Contest in Lugano, Robinson was the musical director of the UK selection - although it should be pointed out that the final of that selection process took place in October 1956, months after the international final had taken place. It was not until 1957 that the United Kingdom sent a 'song for Europe' to the international final for the first time, conducted on that occasion by Eric Robinson.
Eric Robinson was the musical director of the Eurovision Song Contests of 1960 and 1963, both organised in London. On top of that, he conducted five UK entries between 1957 and 1965, coming second on three occasions. As the contest’s MD, he helped out the delegation of Luxembourg in 1960, which had not brought along a conductor to London – something he did again three years later for the Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
EUROVISION INVOLVEMENT YEAR BY YEAR
1956 Lugano (1)
Country – United Kingdom (A)
Song title – “Ev'rybody Falls In Love With Someone”
Rendition – Denis Lotis
Lyrics – Norman Newell
Composition – Peter Hart
Studio arrangement (Matt Monro version) – Malcolm Lockyer
Live orchestration – Tony Osborne
Conductor (UK final) – Eric Robinson
Score – none / UK chose not to participate
1956 Lugano (2)
Country – United Kingdom (B)
Song title – “Little Ship”
Rendition – Shirley Abicair
Lyrics – Irene Roper
Composition – Terry Roper
Studio arrangement (Jackie Lee version) – Frank Marlowe
Live orchestration – Bert Thompson
Conductor (UK final) – Eric Robinson
Score – none / UK chose not to participate
Country – United Kingdom
Song title – "All"
Rendition – Patricia Bredin
Lyrics – Alan Stranks
Composition – Reynell Wreford
Studio arrangement – none
Live orchestration – Bert Thompson / Frank Chacksfield
Conductor – Eric Robinson
Score – 7th place (6 votes)
Country – United Kingdom
Song title – "Sing Little Birdie"
Rendition – Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson
Lyrics – Syd Cordell
Composition – Stan Butcher
Studio arrangement – Martin Slavin
(studio orchestra conducted by Martin Slavin)
Live orchestration – Alan Bristow
Conductor – Eric Robinson
Score – 2nd place (16 votes)
1960 London (1)
Country – United Kingdom
Song title – "Looking High, High, High"
Rendition – Bryan Johnson
Lyrics – John Watson
Composition – John Watson
Studio arrangement – Eric Rogers
Live orchestration – Dick Barrell
Conductor – Eric Robinson (MD)
Score – 2nd place (25 votes)
1960 London (2)
Country – Luxembourg
Song title – "So laang we's du do bast"
Rendition – Camillo Felgen
Lyrics – Henri Mootz
Composition – Henri Mootz / Jean Roderes
Studio arrangement – none
Live orchestration – Jean Roderes
Conductor – Eric Robinson (MD)
Score – 13th place (1 vote)
1963 London (1)
Country – United Kingdom
Song title – "Say Wonderful Things"
Rendition – Ronnie Carroll
Lyrics – Norman Newell
Composition – Philip Green
Studio arrangement – Wally Stott
(studio orchestra conducted by Wally Stott)
Live orchestration – Wally Stott
Conductor – Eric Robinson (MD)
Score – 4th place (28 votes)
1963 London (2)
Country – Netherlands
Song title – "Een speeldoos"
Rendition – Annie Palmen
Lyrics – Pieter Goemans
Composition – Pieter Goemans
Studio arrangement – Bert Paige
(studio orchestra conducted by Bert Paige)
Live orchestration – Bert Paige
Conductor – Eric Robinson (MD)
Score – 13th place (0 votes)
1963 London (3)
Country – Switzerland
Song title – "T'en va pas"
Rendition – Esther Ofarim
Lyrics – Emile Gardaz
Composition – Géo Voumard
Studio arrangement – Pierre Thomas
(studio orchestra conducted by Pierre Thomas)
Live orchestration – Pierre Thomas
Conductor – Eric Robinson (MD)
Score – 2nd place (40 votes)
1963 London (4)
Country – Luxembourg
Song title – "A force de prier"
Rendition – Nana Mouskouri
Lyrics – Pierre Delanoë
Composition – Raymond Bernard
Studio arrangement – Robert Chauvigny
(studio orchestra conducted by Jacques Denjean)
Live orchestration – Robert Chauvigny
Conductor – Eric Robinson (MD)
Score – 8th place (13 votes)
Country – United Kingdom
Song title – "I Belong"
Rendition – Kathy Kirby
Lyrics – Phil Peters
Composition – Peter Lee Stirling
Studio arrangement – Ivor Raymonde
(studio orchestra conducted by Ivor Raymonde)
Live orchestration – Ivor Raymonde
Conductor – Eric Robinson
Score – 2nd place (26 votes)
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