Red Robinson, Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer and legendary Vancouver DJ, has died
Legendary Vancouver disc jockey Red Robinson has died, his family announced Saturday.
"With deep sadness and broken hearts, we bring the news that our beloved dad, Red Robinson, passed this morning at 8:15 a.m. after a brief illness," wrote Kellie and Sherrie Robinson in a message on Facebook.
Robinson first made a name for himself in the 1950s, playing rock 'n' roll music before it hit the mainstream.
In 1957, he emceed Elvis Presley's only concert in Vancouver. Seven years later, he did the same when The Beatles came to town.
In 1995, Robinson was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Robinson was a fixture on Metro Vancouver airwaves for more than six decades, finally retiring in 2017 at age 80, after 63 years in broadcasting.
"Most people knew our dad as a rock 'n' roll DJ, a TV personality, an ad agency owner, a spokesperson, or through his philanthropic work," he family wrote.
"He was larger-than-life in a lot of ways, but to us he was a devoted father and grandfather, a loving husband to our late mom Carole, and a loyal friend to everybody."
In 2006, the casino in Coquitlam – then known as Boulevard Casino – named its 1,100-seat theatre the Red Robinson Show Theatre.
When the casino's owners rebranded as the Hard Rock Casino a few years later, thousands of people signed a petition urging them to keep Robinson's name on the venue. Local crooner Michael Bublé was among those outraged by the decision, telling CTV News at the time that he was "livid."
"Red Robinson has meant a lot to me," Bublé said at the time. "But the truth is it’s more than that. It’s not a personal thing in a way, it’s bigger than that. I’m a very proud Vancouverite, I love this city, and we’re talking about an icon."
Speaking to CTV News on the day of his last broadcast, the icon himself was much less grandiose about his legacy.
"I'd just like to thank everybody for putting up with me for six decades," he said at the time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.