Charlie Robison
Robison performing in 2007
Robison performing in 2007
Background information
Birth nameCharles Fitzgerald Robison
Born(1964-09-01)September 1, 1964
Houston, Texas, U.S.
OriginBandera, Texas, U.S.
DiedSeptember 10, 2023(2023-09-10) (aged 59)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active1996–2018, 2022–2023
LabelsViero
Lucky Dog
Columbia
Dualtone
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1999; div. 2008)​
Websitecharlierobison.com

Charles Fitzgerald Robison (September 1, 1964 – September 10, 2023)[1] was an American country music singer-songwriter.

Career

After a knee injury at Southwest Texas State University[2] ended a potential football career, Charlie Robison came to Austin, Texas in the late 1980s and had stints in the bands Chaparral, Millionaire Playboys, and Two Hoots and a Holler.[3] He went solo with his album "Bandera" in 1996. He subsequently signed with Sony and released "Life of the Party" on Sony's subsidiary Lucky Dog Records. The album gave him three of his biggest hits including "My Hometown." His next release was a live disc called "Unleashed Live," which is credited to Charlie, brother Bruce, and Jack Ingram. He then signed with Columbia Records for "Step Right Up" and another live album.

In 2003, Robison was a judge on the first season of the TV singing competition Nashville Star.[4]

Unhappy with the expectations and limitations of being a Nashville country artist, he moved to a smaller independent label, Dualtone, for Good Times in 2004, followed by extensive touring and newfound control over his career. Accordingly, his sound began to evolve away from mainstream/Nashville country and toward more Southern and hard rock influences.

Five years after the release of "Good Times," Robison released Beautiful Day on June 23, 2009, on Dualtone. This was the first album he self-produced. Both albums featured several songs written by Nashville singer-songwriter Keith Gattis.

His song "Good Times" was featured in the credits of HBO's original series True Blood in the first season's third episode.

In 2009, he embarked on an East Coast tour with stops in Little Rock, Nashville, Atlanta, Raleigh, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, Iowa City, and Memphis to promote Beautiful Day. Since then he has played primarily in Texas, with occasional shows in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.

Robison was known for playing classic rock covers during his live shows.

His live band included Mark Tokach (lead guitar), Abe Combest (drums), Zeke Benenate (bass) J.C. Burt (steel guitar) and Chris Valdez (road manager and additional guitar). Prior to Beautiful Day, his band was known as The Enablers, and included Keith Robinson (drums), Scott Esbeck (bass) and Travis Woodard (drums). Other notable members have included Kim Deschamps (pedal & lap steel, mandolin and guitar from 2000–2009), Kevin Carroll (guitar), Jason Bryl (bass), Chris Grady (bass), Louis Landry (keyboards and accordion), and Kris Brown (bass). His recordings have also featured special guests Lloyd Maines (who produced "Step Right Up" and "Good Times"), Rich Brotherton, Charlie Sexton, and Natalie Maines (duet on "The Wedding Song" and harmony vocals on "El Cerrito Place").

In September 2014, Robison opened Alamo Icehouse in San Antonio, Texas, with former Major League Baseball player Brooks Kieschnick.[5]

On September 24, 2018, Robison announced that due to complications from surgery, he was permanently unable to sing, and that he was officially retiring from stage and studio.[6] Robison resumed his music career in 2022.[7] He returned to Billy Bob's as part of his first tour since 2018, playing at the same venue where he first played in 1999.[8]

Personal life and death

Robison's brother, Bruce Robison, and his sister, Robyn Ludwick, are also singer-songwriters.

Robison married Emily Erwin of The Chicks at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in May 1999,[9] with whom he had three children. The couple divorced in August 2008.[10] He and his second wife had a son in February 2020.

Robison died after suffering from cardiac arrest and other complications at a San Antonio, Texas hospital on September 10, 2023, at the age of 59.[11]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
US Country US
Heat
Bandera
  • Release date: August 6, 1996
  • Label: Viero Records
 — —
Life of the Party
  • Release date: September 8, 1998
  • Label: Lucky Dog
 71 —
Unleashed Live
(with Jack Ingram and Bruce Robison)
  • Release date: September 26, 2000
  • Label: Lucky Dog
 — —
Step Right Up 27 23
Live
  • Release date: May 6, 2003
  • Label: Columbia Records
 51 —
Good Times 52 —
Beautiful Day
  • Release date: June 23, 2009
  • Label: Dualtone Records
 33 25
Live at Billy Bob's Texas
  • Release date: June 4, 2013
  • Label: Smith Music Group
 63 33
High Life
  • Release date: October 1, 2013
  • Label: Jetwell Records
 48 25
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
1999 "Barlight" 60 Life of the Party
2000 "My Hometown" 65
"Poor Man's Son" 67
2001 "I Want You Bad" 35 Step Right Up
"Right Man for the Job" —
2003 "Walter" 58 Live
2004 "El Cerrito Place" — Good Times
2005 "Photograph" —
2006 "Wild Man from Borneo" — Why the Hell Not:
The Songs of Kinky Friedman
2009 "Reconsider" — Beautiful Day
"Down Again" —
2010 "Feelin' Good" —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
1998 "Barlight" Adrian Pasdar
1999 "My Hometown"
2000 "Poor Man's Son" Adam Little
2001 "I Want You Bad" Trey Fanjoy
"Right Man for the Job"
2004 "El Cerrito Place" Adrian Pasdar
2005 "Photograph"

Tributes

He appeared on Kindred Spirits: A tribute to Johnny Cash, singing "Don't Take Your Guns to Town".

In 2006, Charlie Robison performed "Wildman from Borneo" on the Kinky Friedman tribute "Why the hell not..." The songs of Kinky Friedman.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Andrew, Dansby (September 10, 2023). "Charlie Robison, Texas country singer-songwriter behind 'My Hometown,' dies at 59". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Charlie Robison steps right up – March 2001". Countrystandardtime.com.
  3. ↑ "Country Music – Music News, New Songs, Videos, Music Shows and Playlists from CMT". Archived from the original on February 16, 2004.
  4. ↑ "USA Network | Nashville Star - Character Profile: Charlie Robison - Judge". www.usanetwork.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  5. ↑ Lucio, Valentino (September 13, 2014). "Downtown ice house & BBQ joint opens". Blog.mysanantonio.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Untitled". tasteofcountry.com. September 24, 2018.
  7. ↑ Trigger (September 28, 2022). "Texas Country Legend Charlie Robison is Exploring a Comeback". Saving Country Music. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Charlie Robison". Billy Bob's Texas. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Dixie Chicks member weds in West Texas". The Kerrville Times. Kerrville, Texas. p. 16. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Emily Erwin of the Texas-born group married fellow Texan and musician Charlie Robison on Saturday at Cibolo Creek Ranch in the Big Bend.
  10. ↑ "Dixie Chicks in divorce court". Archived from the original on August 17, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Country Singer-Songwriter Charlie Robison Dies at 59". The Hollywood Reporter. September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
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