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Charlie Robison
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 | This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (September 2024) |
Key Information
Charles Fitzgerald Robison (September 1, 1964 – September 10, 2023)[1] was an American country music singer-songwriter.
Career
[edit]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. 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.[7]
Personal life and death
[edit]Robison's brother, Bruce Robison, and his sister, Robyn Ludwick, are also singer-songwriters.
Robison married Emily Erwin of the Dixie Chicks at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in May 1999,[8] with whom he had three children. The couple divorced in August 2008.[9] 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.[10]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Heat | ||
| Bandera |
|
— | — |
| Life of the Party |
|
71 | — |
| Unleashed Live (with Jack Ingram and Bruce Robison) |
|
— | — |
| Step Right Up |
|
27 | 23 |
| Live |
|
51 | — |
| Good Times |
|
52 | — |
| Beautiful Day |
|
33 | 25 |
| Live at Billy Bob's Texas |
|
63 | 33 |
| High Life |
|
48 | 25 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Singles
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Andrew, Dansby (September 10, 2023). "Charlie Robison, Texas country singer-songwriter behind 'My Hometown,' dies at 59". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "Charlie Robison steps right up – March 2001". Countrystandardtime.com.
- ^ "Country Music – Music News, New Songs, Videos, Music Shows and Playlists from CMT". Archived from the original on February 16, 2004.
- ^ "USA Network | Nashville Star - Character Profile: Charlie Robison - Judge". usanetwork.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ Lucio, Valentino (September 13, 2014). "Downtown ice house & BBQ joint opens". Blog.mysanantonio.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021.
- ^ "Untitled". tasteofcountry.com. September 24, 2018.
- ^ "Charlie Robison". Billy Bob's Texas. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Saldaña, Hector. "Dixie Chicks in divorce court". My San Antonio. Hearst Newspapers. Archived from the original on August 17, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
- ^ "Country Singer-Songwriter Charlie Robison Dies at 59". The Hollywood Reporter. September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Charlie Robison at AllMusic
- Charlie Robison discography at Discogs
- Charlie Robison at IMDb
- Charlie Robison discography at MusicBrainz
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
Charlie Robison
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early Life
Childhood and Family
Charles Fitzgerald Robison was born on September 1, 1964, in Houston, Texas.[7] He grew up in Bandera, Texas—known as the "Cowboy Capital of the World"—on a family ranch that his ancestors had worked for eight generations, with roots tracing back to the area's settlement in the 1840s.[3][8][9] Robison was the eldest of three siblings, including his brother Bruce Robison, a noted songwriter and musician, and sister Robyn Ludwick, who also pursued a career in music; the family environment fostered a deep connection to Texas heritage and creative expression.[3] His parents frequently took him to The Cabaret, Bandera's local country and western dancehall, starting from before he could walk, where he was immersed in live performances that shaped his early musical sensibilities.[3] At home, the Robison household echoed with rock 'n' roll records and the works of singer-songwriters, while local radio stations broadcast country and folk tunes that further influenced the young Robison during family gatherings.[3][10] Much of Robison's childhood revolved around the rhythms of ranch life in Bandera, where he participated in everyday ranching tasks and rode bareback on the family pony from a young age,[11] though his initial forays into music involved casual exposure rather than formal training.[12] These experiences on the ranch and in the tight-knit community laid the groundwork for his lifelong affinity for Texas storytelling and twang-infused sounds.[6]Education and Musical Beginnings
After graduating high school amid his family's ranching background in Bandera, Texas, Charlie Robison attended Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in the early 1980s on a two-sport athletic scholarship for football and baseball.[13][14] There, he played on the Bobcats football team, which achieved national prominence by winning the Division II championship during his time.[15] However, a knee injury sustained while playing football derailed his athletic ambitions and led him to redirect his energies toward music as an alternative pursuit.[16][17] Disillusioned with the college environment, which Robison later described as more of a "beer bash" than an intellectual endeavor, he left Southwest Texas State without completing his degree and began focusing seriously on songwriting.[14] In the late 1980s, he relocated to Austin, Texas, drawn by the city's burgeoning music community and its opportunities for aspiring performers.[14] This move marked a deliberate shift, allowing him to immerse himself in the local scene while honing his craft as a songwriter and vocalist.[18] Robison's early songwriting drew heavily from Texas musical traditions, particularly influenced by artists like Doug Sahm, whose eclectic blend of country, blues, and conjunto resonated with Robison's own roots.[19][20] He also absorbed inspirations from local radio stations broadcasting regional sounds, which exposed him to maverick figures in the Lone Star music landscape and shaped his emerging outlaw country aesthetic.[19] To build his skills, Robison started performing initial gigs in Austin's bars and coffeehouses, where he refined his raw, narrative-driven style characterized by themes of Texas life, rebellion, and resilience.[14][21] These intimate venues provided a platform to experiment with original material, establishing the foundation for his distinctive voice in the outlaw country genre.[21]Career
Early Bands and Austin Scene
After sustaining a knee injury that ended his college athletic career, Charlie Robison relocated to Austin, Texas, in the late 1980s, drawn by the city's burgeoning music scene. There, he and his brother Bruce joined Chaparral, a traditional country band that emerged as a pivotal act in revitalizing Texas dancehall culture, encouraging younger audiences to embrace two-stepping and waltzing at local honky-tonks. Robison also played in the Millionaire Playboys and Two Hoots and a Holler during this period.[3][22] Robison contributed guitar and vocals to Chaparral's performances, which often featured his emerging songwriting that infused classic country structures with personal narratives drawn from Texas ranch life.[14] Robison soon expanded his involvement by joining Two Hoots and a Holler, a roots-rock ensemble popular in Austin's club circuit, where he provided backing vocals and co-wrote original material that highlighted the band's energetic blend of rock and country elements.[22][23] This stint, beginning around 1987, allowed him to hone his stage presence amid the city's vibrant retro-country revival, performing regularly at venues such as the Black Cat Lounge and the Hole in the Wall.[14] Chaparral, in particular, gigged at iconic spots like the Broken Spoke, a storied Austin honky-tonk that became a hub for the band's traditional-leaning sets, fostering a renewed interest in live country dancing.[22] Through these group affiliations, Robison's style evolved, merging honky-tonk rhythms and rock-driven energy with storytelling lyrics influenced by figures like Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, laying the groundwork for the gritty Texas country sound that defined his later work.[23] His time in these bands also built key networks within Austin's music community, including collaborations with Chaparral frontman Jeff Hughes and Two Hoots leader Rick Broussard, as well as ties to his brother Bruce's growing circle of songwriters like Monte Warden of the Wagoneers.[14] These connections, rooted in shared gigs and mutual support, positioned Robison amid a wave of emerging Texas talents who were reshaping the local scene's fusion of Americana traditions.[22]Solo Debut and Major Label Period
Robison transitioned to a solo career in the mid-1990s, releasing his independent debut album Bandera on Vireo Records in 1995. The album showcased his songwriting prowess with original tracks such as the title song "Bandera," blending outlaw country influences with Texas roots music.[6] In 1998, Robison signed with Sony Music's Lucky Dog imprint, a label focused on alternative country acts, leading to the release of his major-label debut Life of the Party that same year. Produced by Lloyd Maines, the album captured Robison's raw, narrative-driven style and included key singles like "My Hometown," which peaked at No. 65 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2000.[4][24][25] Building on this momentum, Robison's follow-up album Step Right Up arrived in 2001 via Columbia Records, featuring standout tracks such as "I Want You Bad." During this major-label period, he toured extensively, sharing stages with prominent country acts and cultivating a dedicated fanbase that extended from Texas across the United States.[26]Independent Years and Style Shift
After departing from his major label deal with Sony's Lucky Dog imprint following the release of his 2003 live album, Charlie Robison signed with the independent label Dualtone Records, seeking greater creative control amid frustrations with Nashville's commercial constraints.[27] This shift marked the beginning of his independent phase, starting with the album Good Times, released on September 21, 2004. The record incorporated stronger rock elements, blending gritty honky-tonk country with Texas blues influences and echoes of artists like John Mellencamp and John Prine, diverging from the more polished Nashville sound of his earlier major-label work.[28][29] Tracks like "New Year's Day" and a cover of Keith Gattis's "El Cerrito Place" exemplified this evolution, featuring raw production with fiddle, pedal steel, and roadhouse energy that emphasized Robison's outlaw roots.[29] Robison's independent era continued with increased stylistic experimentation, particularly evident in his self-produced 2009 album Beautiful Day, also on Dualtone, which drew from harder Southern rock and alternative country while exploring deeply personal themes of heartbreak and recovery following his divorce.[27][30] The album's sound featured psychedelic guitar elements and blues-tinged ballads, as heard in songs like "Down Again" with contributions from Texas guitarist Charlie Sexton, and "Yellow Blues," reflecting a more introspective yet aggressive edge compared to his prior releases.[30] Collaborations with Texas songwriters such as Keith Gattis and Charles Brocco on tracks like "Reconsider" further highlighted his ties to the regional scene, prioritizing authentic storytelling over mainstream appeal.[30] Throughout these years, Robison faced challenges with limited label promotion, leading him to concentrate on regional tours primarily in Texas, with occasional extensions to nearby states like Louisiana and Arkansas, where he built a dedicated fanbase through live performances blending original material with classic rock covers.[27] This focus on grassroots support allowed for creative freedom but underscored the difficulties of sustaining visibility without major-label backing, as his work increasingly embraced blues and alternative country textures to distinguish itself from traditional Nashville conventions.[27][30]Later Ventures and Retirement
In 2003, Robison served as a judge on the inaugural season of the USA Network's reality competition series Nashville Star, where he evaluated aspiring country performers alongside country music historian Robert K. Oermann and Sony Music A&R executive Tracy Gershon.[31] His role on the show highlighted his established status in the Texas country scene and provided a platform to offer candid feedback on emerging talent during the eight-week competition that premiered on March 8, 2003.[16] Diversifying beyond music, Robison co-opened the Alamo Ice House, a barbecue restaurant and music venue in downtown San Antonio, Texas, in September 2014, partnering with former Major League Baseball player Brooks Kieschnick and others.[32] The venue blended casual dining with live performances, reflecting Robison's deep ties to Texas culture, and featured a grand opening event headlined by Robison and his brother Bruce on September 26, 2014.[32] Alamo Ice House operated until early 2018, when it closed amid challenges in the competitive San Antonio bar scene.[33] Complications from throat surgery in early 2018 prompted Robison to announce his retirement from touring and recording on September 24, 2018, stating that the procedure had irreversibly damaged his voice, leaving him unable to sing or perform as before.[34] In a personal Facebook post, he expressed gratitude for his career while confirming his withdrawal from the stage and studio, marking the end of over two decades of active music-making.[35] Despite the retirement, Robison made a brief return to performing in 2022, embarking on a limited tour with select appearances across Texas, including a show at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth—the same venue where he had debuted decades earlier.[36] These low-key gigs, his first in over four years, showcased a scaled-back approach to live music, allowing him to reconnect with fans without the rigors of full-time touring.[37]Personal Life
Marriages and Children
Charlie Robison married Emily Erwin, a founding member of the country band the Chicks, on May 1, 1999, at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in Texas.[38] The couple, whose relationship inspired the Chicks' hit song "Cowboy Take Me Away," shared a life rooted in Texas ranching traditions, with Robison's family having owned land in Bandera since the 1840s.[39] They divorced on August 6, 2008, after nearly a decade of marriage.[40] From his first marriage, Robison had three children: son Charles "Gus" Augustus, born on November 11, 2002, and twins Julianna Tex and Henry Benjamin, born on April 14, 2005.[41][42] The family resided on a ranch near Bandera, where Robison balanced the demands of his music career— including extensive touring—with ranch responsibilities and time with his young children, often describing the property as a grounding force amid his professional life.[43] Robison remarried in 2015 to Kristen Robison, a registered nurse and executive at a pediatric home health company.[44] Together, they welcomed a son, Jett James, in February 2020, and Robison became a stepfather to Kristen's children from a previous relationship.[45] The couple maintained a home in the Bandera area, continuing Robison's commitment to family-oriented ranch life even as he navigated the later stages of his career.[46] Family experiences profoundly influenced Robison's songwriting, particularly themes of fatherhood and familial bonds in his later work. Tracks like "Photograph" from his 2004 album Good Times evoke nostalgic reflections on parental figures and childhood memories, drawing from his own roles as a son of ranchers and a father.[47] His retirement from full-time touring in 2018 was partly motivated by a desire to prioritize time with his growing family.[44]Health Challenges and Death
In January 2018, Robison underwent a tonsillectomy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) procedure in San Antonio to address sleep apnea and chronic sinus infections.[48] The surgeries resulted in severe long-term complications, including permanent nerve damage that impaired his vocal cords and rendered him unable to sing professionally, along with ongoing difficulties swallowing foods and liquids.[48] These effects persisted despite recovery efforts, leading Robison to file a $2 million lawsuit against his surgeon, Dr. Christian Stallworth, in September 2018 for gross negligence and failure to disclose risks; the case was later dismissed in October 2022 without a disclosed settlement.[48] On September 24, 2018, Robison announced his retirement from music via a Facebook post, stating that the complications had left him with a "permanent inability to sing" and expressing a heavy heart over the decision.[34] Robison's health continued to decline in the years following his retirement. On September 10, 2023, he suffered cardiac arrest and other unspecified complications at a San Antonio hospital, where he died at the age of 59; his death was confirmed by a family representative.[49] He was survived by his second wife, Kristen Robison, whom he married in 2015, and their young son, Jett James, born in 2020.[50] A private funeral was held for Robison, with burial on the family's ranch in Bandera County, Texas.[7] His wife, Kristen, shared a statement on social media, writing, "It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Charlie Robison has passed away today, surrounded by his family and friends."[51] Robison's brother, Bruce Robison, also issued a family statement on Facebook, noting, "My big brother Charlie touched the lives of so many people. It makes my family so incredibly proud to feel the love that so many of you have shown in the short time since his passing."[52]Discography
Studio Albums
Charlie Robison released six studio albums over the course of his career, beginning with an independent debut and progressing through major label and independent releases that showcased his evolving blend of Texas country, honky-tonk, and rock influences.[1] These albums featured collaborations with notable producers like Lloyd Maines and reflected Robison's songwriting centered on personal and regional themes, often self-produced in later years. His debut album, Bandera, was self-released on Vireo Records in 1995, containing 12 tracks that captured his early raw sound rooted in Texas honky-tonk traditions.[53][54] Produced by Robison and Lloyd Maines, the album received limited distribution but established his reputation in the Austin music scene without achieving national chart success.[55] In 1998, Robison signed with Sony's Lucky Dog imprint and issued Life of the Party, a 12-track collection released on August 25 that marked his major label breakthrough.[56][57] Co-produced by Robison and Lloyd Maines, it peaked at No. 71 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, highlighting his growing commercial appeal during his early major label period.[58] Step Right Up, released April 10, 2001, on Columbia Records (a Sony subsidiary), featured 12 tracks and continued Robison's major label output with a polished yet gritty production.[59] Co-produced by Robison and Blake Chancey, the album reached No. 27 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, underscoring his peak visibility in the industry at that time.[60][61] Transitioning to independent status, Good Times came out on September 21, 2004, via Dualtone Music Group, comprising 11 original tracks that leaned into rock-infused country arrangements and peaked at No. 52 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Co-produced by Robison and Lloyd Maines, it emphasized his stylistic shift post-major labels.[62][63] Robison's Beautiful Day, was self-released on Thirty Tigers (in association with Dualtone) on June 23, 2009, with 11 tracks exploring introspective and personal narratives.[64] Self-produced by Robison, it represented his later independent phase and received no major certifications or chart placements.[65] Robison's final studio album, High Life, was released on October 15, 2013, via Thirty Tigers, featuring 9 cover songs with a focus on classic tracks. Self-produced, it did not chart on Billboard but highlighted his interpretive style in his later career.[66][67] None of Robison's albums achieved RIAA certifications, though they collectively solidified his influence in Texas country music.[18]Singles
Charlie Robison released several singles during his major label tenure with Lucky Dog Records, primarily drawn from his albums Life of the Party (1998) and Step Right Up (2001), which achieved modest success on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. These tracks highlighted his raw, Texas-infused country sound and received airplay on both national and regional radio stations. While none reached the top 20 nationally, they established his presence in the country music landscape, particularly in the Texas market.[25] The following table summarizes Robison's charting singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart:| Year | Single | Album | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "Barlight" | Life of the Party | 60 | 20 |
| 1999 | "My Hometown" | Life of the Party | 65 | 13 |
| 2000 | "Poor Man's Son" | Life of the Party | 67 | 1 |
| 2001 | "I Want You Bad" | Step Right Up | 35 | 20 |
| 2003 | "Walter" | Live | 58 | 1 |