Kenny's Biography
Formative Years
Kenny “Keys”Robinson was born on December 1st, 1959 in Queens General Hospital in Queens New York. His father the Reverend B.T. Robinson pastored the Church of Christ Holiness in Harlem NYC. Kenny was raised in Jamaica, Queens NYC, which has been proven to be a hot-bed of musical talent spurning such musical talent as LLCooJ, RunDMC, Queen Latifah, Russell Simmons, Marcus Miller, Tom Brown, to name a few. The youngest of ten children, Kenny followed in the footsteps of his older brother Rev. David I. Robinson, who led a very successful regional contemporary gospel group called “The Robinson Ensemble”. Learning keyboard under his older brother’s tutelage, Kenny began playing in church by age 11. The Gateway 2nd C.O.G.I.G. in Queens NY is where Kenny would spend his formative years as the church’s musician and choir director. He later led his own group called Today’s Children. Deciding early on to pursue music as a profession, Kenny began taking formal music lessons at age 13.
Educational Background
• Private Piano Lessons with Prof. Ben Marty/ Laura Leon (Queens College)/Yvonne Brown (Colombia University)/Steven Lee (Brooklyn Conservatory of Music)
• Organ Studies with Marian L. Parker (Calvary AME Church)
• Bachelor of Music Program at Queens College – with a concentration in composition and arranging
• The Julliard School (Extension Division) – classes in theory, ear training and composition.
• Private studies in audio engineering with Howie Stern (chief audio engineer for Madison Square Garden, NYC)
• Private studies in MIDI applications and Synthesizers from Dean Friedman (Author of “The Complete Guide To Midi, Synthesizers, and Drum Machines
• Private studies in composition with Rob Merkin (arranger, composer, orchestrator – “Lil Shop Of Horrors”, “The Little Mermaid”, Music Director for Sesame Street
Career Accomplishments
• Radio Composition Contest Winner 1985 – received cash award and scholarship to study at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Mass.
• Four times a Quarter Finalist in the National Songwriter’s Competition – awarded cash and certificates
• Keyboardist for “The Godfather of Rap” Kurtis Blow – toured for two years for RUSH productions, managed by Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons
• Recorded radio commercials for FOOTLOCKER with former teacher Rob Merkin
• Produced a full length Cd for Warlock Records/Warner Bros. Artist Sylvia Simmons
• Production work with “the Bomb Squad (Public Enemy”/ De LA Soul/ Rahiem of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
• Pianist for Shirley Cesar (Doug Wilder Hall, Norfolk, VA)
• Song entitled “SONG IN MY SPIRIT” featured on Earl Bynum and As We Are, Light Records release.
• Production and Recording credit for song entitled “ONE OF THESE DAYS” featured in romantic/comedy film starring Vanessa Williams, Ben Veeren and Eartha Kitt entitled “AND THEN CAME LOVE”
• KR MUSIC STUDIO has been sited as the most winning studio in Hampton Roads, VA by STAR94 radio station in there “Catch A Rising Star” talent competition
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