Throwback Thursday: Frank "Sugar Chile Robinson" with Count Basie

A self-taught jazz pianist and blues singer who became famous as a child prodigy, Detroit born Frank "Sugar Chile" Robinson gained fame playing guest spots at the theater with Lionel Hampton as well as radio tunes with Harry "The Hipster" Gibson. Robinson also appeared as himself in the Hollywood film No Leave, No Love, starring Van Johnson and Keenan Wynn, After performing for the likes of President Truman in 1946 at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, in 1949 Robinson was given special permission to join the American Federation of Musicians and record his first releases on Capitol Records, "Numbers Boogie" and "Caldonia", both reaching the Billboard R&B chart. Surprisingly, Robinson would leave the music industry at 14 to pursue his education, but not before touring with Count Basie and appearing on television and in a short film ‘Sugar Chile’ Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet’.