Frank Robson (27 April 1946 – 16 November 2024) was an English-born rock musician who achieved fame in Finland. He was known as a singer, pianist and organ player.[1] He first travelled to Finland in 1967.
Life and career
editRobson was born in Bradford on Avon on 27 April 1946. He had met some Finns in a London pub, and someone had given him their phone number. When Robson's band subsequently was on tour in Scandinavia, he found himself in Stockholm and called the Finnish number. At that time, there was a demand for rock musicians in Finland who had English as their native language, especially for someone with experience from the music circles in London;[2] it is said that in London, Robson had played with the Small Faces.[3]
In Finland, Robson joined Mosaic, as their lead singer following Kirill Babitzin's departure to pursue a solo career. Mosaic made a single, both songs on which were penned by Robson. Next Robson was asked to join Blues Section to fill in for Jim Pembroke. In 1968, Robson made a single with the band and they played 50 gigs before breaking up and Robson returned to England.[2] He soon returned to Finland, and joined the Tasavallan Presidentti for their first two albums before being fired. Robson joined the reformed band in 1999, sharing writing credits on the 2006 album Six Complete with Jukka Tolonen.[2]
Robson released five solo albums. In 2013 he was diagnosed with cancer of the pharynx. After a number of operations, his voice was reduced, but he remained hopeful, saying that "it's somewhere between Joe Cocker and Louis Armstrong." His first two albums, Robson and Stay Awhile were re-released by the Finnish record company Svart Records. The same company also put out a collection of Robson's early singles, with a total of 14 songs.[2]
Robson had two daughters, of which one, Jenny Robson, is also a singer. He died in Lahti, Finland on 16 November 2024, at the age of 78.[4]
Solo albums
edit- Robson (1974)
- Stay Awhile (1976)
- I Painted a Picture (1986)
- Sings Mick Hanian (1987)
- Back in Business (1998)
References
edit- ^ Frank Robson in elonet
- ^ a b c d Uusitorppa, Harri (27 April 2016). "Poppari toi tuulahduksen Lontoosta" ['A pop musician brought a fresh wind from London’]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Sanoma. p. B 14. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ Nyman, Jake (1982). Rocktieto 3 ['Rock Info 3': N–Z]. Pirkkala: Fanzine Oy. ISBN 951-99372-4-2. [unreliable source?]
- ^ "Tasavallan Presidentti -yhtyeen Frank Robson on kuollut". Soundi. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
External links
edit- Frank Robson and Mosaic at YLE Elävä arkisto.
- Frank Robson discography at Discogs
- Frank Robson at IMDb