Frank 'Sugar Chile' Robinson
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Born Frankie Robinson in Detroit, the youngest of
seven children born to Clarence and Elizabeth Robinson. He was
nicknamed "Sugar Chile" by his mother. Although neither parent was a
musician, Frankie began playing piano by ear at the age of two. At the
age of three, he won a talent show at the Paradise Theatre in Detroit.
By six, he was playing guest shots with Lionel Hampton's band and the
Frankie Carle Orchestra. In 1946, he made a cameo in the Van Johnson
film "No Leave, No Love" performing "Caldonia". In March 1946, Robinson
performed at a gala in Washington DC for President Truman. He played
four numbers including "Caldonia" during which he shouted out, "How'm I
Doin', Mr President?" This became a popular catch-phrase. In 1947, he
was the subject of a seven-minute film entitled "Frankie 'Sugar Chile'
Robinson." In 1949, Robinson made his first recordings for the Capitol
label. His first two releases were "Numbers Boogie", which made it to
number four on the Billboard R&B charts, and "Caldonia" which reached
number 14. Robinson toured and recorded until 1952, when he requested
that he be allowed to return to school. He graduated from Northern High
School at age 15. He went on to attend Olivet College in Michigan, and
graduated with a degree in psychology in 1960.
