Many years ago, my brother and I owned several coin laundries in Detroit. Our aunt also operated a dry cleaners with its own plant. As a result, the laundromats soon became drop-off locations for dry cleaning. In order to expand the business, we contacted a local black owned radio and television station (WHPR) regarding advertising. Frank Robinson was the account executive who came to one of our stores and produced the commercials. It wasn't until years later that we Iearned Dr. Robinson was a musical child prodigy, and an academic genius who earned a PhD from the University of Michigan before the age of 20. Mr. Robinson never mentioned anything to us about his background and history. It was strictly the business at hand of producing a high quality television commercial for our stores. It goes without saying that my brother and I were honored to meet such a legendary figure even if at the time we had no knowledge of his accomplishments.
@TABBYMUSIC4 жыл бұрын
6 years old and already more talented than I’ll ever be.
@think20863 жыл бұрын
He graduated high school at 15 and became a psychologist.
@KYNDALLJERNAI3 жыл бұрын
He was so cutee
@rosemaryyui63502 жыл бұрын
Believe it or not; it’s never too late to change that. I believe in you dawg
@Eveyeve932 Жыл бұрын
Ain't that the truth SAMe here
@Sampel20245 ай бұрын
You are right!
@howardbroadnax82924 жыл бұрын
It's really a shame when such talent goes unnoticed for so long. He's fantastic !
@NB-sq7ui3 жыл бұрын
How was he unnoticed ? He was famous from a young age?
@empire71793 жыл бұрын
Back then he was very famous
@mambojazz13 жыл бұрын
He was very famous BUT he quit music a few years later and in college got degrees in history and psychology.
@cherylsumler2593 жыл бұрын
Yes, I never heard of “Sugar” until I ran across this video and like many others thought he was little Richard at first looking at this video brings joy to my heart to see “Sugar” cute little face singing and playing the piano! He reminds me of my brother when he was that age and same short set my mom dressed my brother in. Love this video I watch it frequently to get my smile in from my heart ♥️
@itsabovemenow10163 жыл бұрын
He went unnoticed for so long because he was in scenes that could easily be removed from the movie without damaging the storyline. That was a common practice with black performers. Put them musical numbers that would be cut out for southern audiences.
@Alleycat19213 жыл бұрын
Frank "Sugar Chile" Robinson was born in Detroit. He first appeared in a Hollywood movie playing the piano when he was only 7 years old. He left the entertainment industry as a teenager in order to continue his education and eventually earned multiple college degrees, including a PhD. Later, he became a producer and an account executive at the nation's first black owned television station (WGPR - Detroit). At 82 years old, Frank Robinson occasionally makes public appearances to hit the keyboards.
@lorriemamoet94062 жыл бұрын
They shoukd invite him to a talk show. What an idol.
@kiko6322 жыл бұрын
Great story thanks for sharing
@bmoreblessed94 Жыл бұрын
So many child prodigy have a tragic story. Glad to hear he lived a long successful life
@meme3650w11 ай бұрын
He is phenomenal. I love his music. Today is the first day that I have ever heard about him. All music appreciation classes should teach about his music
@huckbarry579 Жыл бұрын
Absolutely brilliant!! So gifted I heard he is 83 years old today!!
@scottleft36724 жыл бұрын
"Mumma said SON...stay away from that woman....she''s no GOOD!" "Ah but mumma didn't know what Calidonia was puttin DOWN "... omg...that is just awsome.
@geoffjoffy3 жыл бұрын
When you have a musical talent like that at such a young age, you're set for life with this gift. Amazing.
@NoferTrunions6 жыл бұрын
I just learned about this phenom. But it ain't his playin', it's his killer vocals along with the playin.' Yes, he's a child playing as a child, but he is in total command and mastery of what he wants to do. Amazing.
@tarnsand4405 жыл бұрын
He quit the music business in 1952 to continue his education.He graduated from 2 colleges..has a PhD in Psychology. He appeared at a music festival in England in his 60's as well as a special Detroit blues reunion a few years back. Frank was born raised in Detroit.
@TrevJ916 жыл бұрын
“Momma didn’t know what Caldonia was putting down” Part always gets me 😂😂😂 what does a 6 year old know about what Caldonia is putting down LOL
@endiaturner56884 жыл бұрын
I was thinking the same damn thing!
@msaintpc4 жыл бұрын
Louis Jordan's wife wrote the song, and the Robinsons were close family friends, so the kid was deeply influenced by the Jordans and often emulated Louis. But of course you're right, no way he could really know anything about that, but he learned plenty about it as an adult.....including all the heartaches that went with it.
@waiifii223 жыл бұрын
he thinks he's singing about food for sure
@murjanipeterson98253 жыл бұрын
RIGHT 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@amakuaole3 жыл бұрын
True that, true that!.
@CharlesEmery11 ай бұрын
Great clip just blessed my heart. Thank you for sharing this. I truly appreciate this.
@michellemealey25697 жыл бұрын
Beautiful boy and so talented melts my heart 😊
@DUCKDUCKGOISMUCHBETTER7 жыл бұрын
Awesome musician...for any age, but even more so for one so young! And what a charming smile!
@woodsofwindsor51165 жыл бұрын
What a cute kid! He is still alive at 80!:)
@Zatanna223 жыл бұрын
Amazing and talented person!!! So many artists unknown in the world. So glad I found him!
@Dano275693 жыл бұрын
The most impressive thing ill ever see in my life. A gift from god❤️🎵🙏. Incredible
@kelliecarter83765 жыл бұрын
I can watch this over and over...I just love it.
@severoque88024 жыл бұрын
Me too !!!!!😍
@shonuff10004 жыл бұрын
Me too
@howardbroadnax82924 жыл бұрын
I have !
@ruthannkizakavich33253 жыл бұрын
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@caelestii52953 жыл бұрын
Where can I watch it? I can't find it anywhere!
@jamaalisaac17354 жыл бұрын
One of the best things I've ever seen.
@suzannebryan1194 Жыл бұрын
True, so cute. I watch to be inspired. Bringing joy all these years later, adorable.
@suzannebryan1194 Жыл бұрын
Very true, watch it whenever I am blue. It cheers me up so…
@sunofsaramusic65797 ай бұрын
@@suzannebryan1194 Yes!
@tarnsand4405 жыл бұрын
Frank joined The American Federation of Musicans in 1949 at age 12 and recorded his first record release at Capitol Records.. He still holds the record of being the earliest youngest to join.
@PiotrBarcz Жыл бұрын
Thanks for posting the full cut without the broken footage and unsynced audio!
@m.p.7762 ай бұрын
Did I just hear a little kid say "ah, but mama didn't know what Caledonia was puttin' down"? 😆🤣 That is one smooth little brother.
@debow6714 жыл бұрын
Jus adorable when he was a child
@sky_in_May2 жыл бұрын
지금은 여든 넘은 어르신이 된 Frank Sugar Chile Robinson!!! 저때 일곱살이었다던데, 너무 귀여워요!! 피아노 치는 모습과 노래에서 soul이 느껴집니다. 틈틈이 와서 보는게 낙입니다
@matrox6 жыл бұрын
They say he was born already knowing how to play without any lessons, Jerry Lee Lewis was the same way, he sat down and he just started to play and all came natural with no lessons. I suspect they learned to play in another life and carried it over into this life.
@msaintpc5 жыл бұрын
Man, Jerry Lee couldn't eat this kid's poo poo.
@kevinpalmer97564 жыл бұрын
If there is good evidence for reincarnation than young musical prodigies like this young fellow are definitely good candidates.
@jalessabeebee49153 жыл бұрын
His spirit been here before. He didnt need to learn
@empire71793 жыл бұрын
@@jalessabeebee4915 That happened to me the first time I bowl,, I hit 3 Strikes in a row.. and the first time I drove a car I got in and took off with no bowling or driving lessons.
@sugardaddy47143 жыл бұрын
Sorry, but no one just starts playing an instrument "naturally". If you heard that, it's a myth or a self-promotion story. He may not have had formal lessons, but he had to practice, play by ear. You just didn't see it. Kids can simply progress quickly and it's not like rock n' roll or blues piano is terribly complicated... Most musical prodigies are raised in musical families (Jerry Lee Lewis learned the piano from his cousins). No need to invoke reincarnation... (please...)
@rubywoo_5.24 жыл бұрын
Amazing 🔥🥰😇 talented, intelligent & well spoken little cutie pie ❤
@joannatorres885 жыл бұрын
The only part that got on my nerves was him not letting him find his dad but other than that they were so sweet to him. He’s so precious I just love this video!!
@mynameisyumyumgivemesum14124 жыл бұрын
What?! You know its acting right? Cool your whitey hating jets
@workingdee Жыл бұрын
Lol, that bugged me too. But otherwise, it was delightful
@taniabrewington9188 Жыл бұрын
Yes, the tone of it. I cringed a little. The not now, later.
@alechall3302 Жыл бұрын
They lost me with that. They forced him to play rather then look for his dad
@1etherealreality Жыл бұрын
It's a movie. His dad shows up at the end of the song.
@pepperdog37615 жыл бұрын
Best music I have ever heard.
@Whatuniverse2 жыл бұрын
🤯Oh hell nawww.😖😳! He's playing keys with his wrist fist and all😂 a little genius ❤️
@pamelahousel31474 жыл бұрын
Fantastic! His life is a great story.God Bless people for helping him recently.
@jacquelinemanley8545 Жыл бұрын
What a gift from God this child was so talented at a young age he should have been rich never broke i wonder what happened to his money when he was young God bless him
@wishingyoublessings4 жыл бұрын
I remember hearing this song on the movie Lackawana Blues , and hearing this intelligent and talented young man play it at such a young age , is Amazing, true talent !!!
@337993maya7 жыл бұрын
Just gorgeous....rare human being
@NoLuvNdezeInnaNetStreetz3 жыл бұрын
Yes he was a beautiful boy 😍🥰
@caro80line5555 жыл бұрын
Amazing talent. Thank you for sharing
@KingSimonPresents2 жыл бұрын
Wow. I never heard of this brother and he is still alive according to Wikipedia
@m_udwhitman26495 жыл бұрын
Oh my god! This former child is not just a child he has a old man soul in his body
@s.s59334 жыл бұрын
Yesssss
@user-ii4zf5iq3t3 жыл бұрын
Thats what I'm going to be in my next life. I'm coming back in a young body even if I have no real talent.
@lyndajay44074 жыл бұрын
"I gotta look for my old man" white man says not now, play something.
@s.s59334 жыл бұрын
Lmao chill
@elonwarren67463 жыл бұрын
I know right! I had to pause the video cuz I was about to get mad lol
@a.s.b.81073 жыл бұрын
@@elonwarren6746 ok I thought it was just me lol 😂
@adamkeenan57073 жыл бұрын
Stop making everything about race and get a life!!!!
@elonwarren67463 жыл бұрын
@@adamkeenan5707 oh pish posh why don’t ya!!
@maldicientin4 жыл бұрын
«But I really have to look for my old man» «Not now, later!» Faster than The Flash that kid was on immediately seating on the stool and hiting the keys......😂😂😂
@kevinpalmer97564 жыл бұрын
Yah, the editing was something to be desired, but remember, it was the 1940s and they had to cut and splice tape then; even after multiple takes.
@rosalindkincannon60434 жыл бұрын
What a talented lil young man n adorable. He set that piano on FIRE 🔥🔥🔥🔥❤❤❤❤
@Jean-q1h7g Жыл бұрын
Oh my word, wonderful!
@SSmith-pk6nx Жыл бұрын
I’m a Van Johnson fan and have never seen this movie! The investigation is on! I hope I can buy it somewhere.
@DW-li1jn5 жыл бұрын
But momma didn’t know what Caledonia was puttin down....Ooooooo 😮😂🤣
@letakeokuk54463 жыл бұрын
Anointed by God!🎼🙏🏾🎼🙏🏾🎼🙏🏾🎼He’s still among us. Would love to hear an updated bio ....💖💖
@callycharles25156 ай бұрын
I feel robbed that I'm just learning about him now that I"m 70 years old. He should have been in school books all along. I'm grateful that I know about him now and I sure am enjoying every second of it.
@huckbarry579 Жыл бұрын
He was a genuis!!!
@neldongentry304311 ай бұрын
A genius in his on time..
@nicholasbance51483 жыл бұрын
JUST...WOOOOW...WOOOOW..WHAT A TALENTED YOUNG KID...U R JUST GREEEEAT
@epikureer14 жыл бұрын
Wow! I saw this scene for the first time - totally impressive! In the German language we call it: "Wunderkind". - a child with extraordinary talent. A little black boy, surpasses 99.99% of the average population. Isn't this a wonderful example - also for the present - that talent is more important than the color of the skin? ^^
@OgDj20246 жыл бұрын
I never heard of Him. If he was that good as a kid, I can imagine how good he was as an adult 🤔
@willeewilliams6 жыл бұрын
J Patterson he quit at age 14 to pursue his education. He got a PhD in psychology
@matrox3 жыл бұрын
@@willeewilliams He became a Math teacher.
@user-ii4zf5iq3t3 жыл бұрын
@@matrox which is it. I would have guessed math. You have to use that side of the brain to play like that.
@v2vroth3 жыл бұрын
Incredible!🎶🎶
@CarmenIvanBesson11 ай бұрын
ah si j'avais ce talent à cet age,une aisance époustouflante ,un miracle de facilité quel rythme , il joue meme avec ses poings ,il chante et en jouant il regarde les autres !!!!!!!!
@malfred5434 Жыл бұрын
Dedication History To My Sister Cassandra and her loving Old School Son of Oldie Music😎✌️
@msaintpc5 жыл бұрын
His first professional performance was at three years old. I know him, he and his family ate at my dad's nightclub on Shane Street every weekend in Detroit. When he made this movie I was in my mother's womb and was born a few days later in Laguna Beach, CA. Later on in life I and my cousin opened a famous clothing store on 8 Mile and Livernois in Detroit named "You and Your Lady Apparel", where he regularly came in and purchased clothing. He retired from show biz at eleven years old to attend the U of Michigan at Detroit to become a psychologist. He earned his Doctorate at just 18 years old. There were many black geniuses like this, however, in order to promote white supremacy they were always kept out of the media.
@severoque88024 жыл бұрын
Oôoooh this is sad.. ..because of the white😣😣 He was such a genious!!🙏💗💗
@bam17604 жыл бұрын
Thank you so very much for your person history knowing sugar chile robinson.. Continual blessings to him and well-being. well wishes to you too! albuq
@howardbroadnax82924 жыл бұрын
That's cool !! You and your family are very lucky to have experienced him up close and personal.
@msaintpc4 жыл бұрын
@Paul C. True, formally known as the "Black Bottom".
@LeeZeidel-s1hАй бұрын
This is the first time I've seen him . Amazing 😮
@codybang61783 жыл бұрын
Just incredible just incredible!!!
@mahni_3 жыл бұрын
Such a cutie pie ♥️
@Yiriyah2 жыл бұрын
My God brother played just as young, not one lesson and fluently speaks 9 languages. Not ONE book nor electronic device taught him. Don't need no more lies n stories when we lookin at one another knowing we are everything everywhere. Forefathers, continue leading our way~~~
@Schpoople4 жыл бұрын
“I’ve lost my father” “Did I ask? Entertain us!” Just didn’t seem right to me lol
@codybang61783 жыл бұрын
I agree
@Pulsonar3 жыл бұрын
The way American white and black actors acted together on film in that era seems so uncomfortably sensitive to the rules of social order of the time. It makes me cringe when I hear the subservient undertones in which black folks spoke to white folks. It’s as if to maintain social order regardless, in all areas of American life.
@codybang61783 жыл бұрын
@@Pulsonar I agree and it really hurt so damn bad.
@braveman16413 жыл бұрын
The American society has a lot to atone for. Such a sad state of things
@homecineman61973 жыл бұрын
It didn’t.Normalized supremacy .
@ericnettles83752 жыл бұрын
I love this one! This is way before my time
@jeffking2914 жыл бұрын
Excellent ❗️. Thanks for posting this ❗️ 📻🙂
@daveman58603 жыл бұрын
That's some serious early rock and roll right there.
@kimcutts61532 күн бұрын
🇬🇧 What a beautiful & talented young man. 😍🎼
@judylett5363 жыл бұрын
A musical 🎵 genius
@AR-oc8ii Жыл бұрын
What got me is when he told the soldier "I have to go find my old man" and the soldier said "Not now....later" SMH Guess some would call that the good ole days.....SMH
@arieswaters5 жыл бұрын
Holy wow! I'm 58 I'm trying to learn to play piano
@mynameisyumyumgivemesum14124 жыл бұрын
Never to late🤗💯
@katiavulpes77543 жыл бұрын
Please, don't give up
@williamallen25655 жыл бұрын
He plays using the splayed finger technique like Thelonious Monk did.
@pesha6005 жыл бұрын
Exactly, the total opposite of the way your piano Teacher told you was proper way to hold the fingers!
@msaintpc4 жыл бұрын
According to copyright records the song 'Caldonia' was written by Louis Jordan using his wife's name 'Fleecie Moore', so he could write music for other labels without incurring lawsuits from the one he was contracted with.
@BAMovin4 жыл бұрын
Look at those eyes!
@suzannebryan1194 Жыл бұрын
Love his eyes😊
@sisi_skyes49914 жыл бұрын
So cute I can’t 😭😭
@severoque88024 жыл бұрын
Yes me too.....
@Chrisamos4124 жыл бұрын
WOW! Amazing, such natural talent! How in the world could this kid fall in between the cracks and end up living a life of squaller
@thekoupekid3 жыл бұрын
Ah but maama didn't know was Caldonia was puttin down... ;)