Red Robinson

Robert Gordon Robinson (RED) was born in Comox, BC on March 30, 1937. He received his early education at King Edward High School in Vancouver. Red was spinning the hits on Vancouver’s CJOR while still in high school in 1954. He was the first DJ to play rock’n’roll music on a regular basis in Canada. In 1957, Red moved to Vancouver Top 40 giant CKWX, where he met Buddy Holly and Elvis and was MC for Elvis’ famed appearance in1957. Portland’s KGW in 1959 gave Red experience in a brand new medium: TV. After service in the US Army, Red returned to CKWX in 1961. He was hired as Program Director at Top 40 newcomer C-FUN, and turned it into a rock’n’roll powerhouse. In1964, Red introduced the famed Beatles. In 1969 he founded Trend Advertising (later Palmer Jarvis Advertising. In 1971, Red moved to CKWX and hosted Trivia Challenge, another coast-to- coast television series for CBC-TV in 1979-80. Several contestants were so inspired by the concept they created the board game Trivial Pursuit. Red hosted mornings on CKWX until 1983, and went “network” with Reunion, a cross-Canada oldies show that ran from 1985-1993. At EXPO 86, Red presented The Legends Of Rock’n’Roll, including Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Righteous Brothers. Another advertising venture, Vrlak Robinson Advertising, merged with Hayhurst Communications in 1987 to form one of Vancouver’s largest advertising agencies. Red returned to television in 1989, hosting Red’s Classic Theater on Bellingham’s KVOS-TV until 2001.In 1993 Red built a top-rated morning show on 650 CISL/Vancouver. Red “retired” from radio in 2001, but continued to broadcast his show Sundays on 650 CISL. In his honour, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation opened the Red Robinson Show Theatre at Coquitlam’s Boulevard Casino in September 2006. In October 2007, Red moved to 1049funfm – Vancouver’s Greatest Hits. Red Rock Diner is heard Sunday from 8am-2pm (Pacific).

In 2008, the Vancouver Music Industry presented Red with the Bruce Allen/Sam Feldman Legend Award for his support of the local music industry. Red was honoured by the Royal British Columbia Museum in 2008 as one of 132 influential British Columbians included in a giant collage known as The Party. In August 2011, Red Rock Diner returned home to CISL 650. Red was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University Of The Fraser Valley in June 2012 for his pioneering contribution to the Canadian music industry and his philanthropic work. Red’s early radio days were the subject of Dean Regan’s hit musical Red Rock Diner, which ran in summer 2014 at Vancouver’s Arts Club Theatre. Red Rock Diner toured B.C. in Fall 2015. In July 2016, Red was appointed to the Order Of British Columbia, the highest form of recognition by the BC Government. Red retired from radio in August 2017 but he’s still rockin’! See what’s new with “The Redhead” at redrobinson.com or Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You’ll find Red Robinson’s Legends on Spotify and most other streaming platforms. Red’s definitive biographies Red Robinson: The Last Deejay and Red Robinson: The Last Broadcast are available everywhere.