Willie Robinson American musician, singer, bluesman Country: USA

1. Biography of William Lorenzo Robinson
2. Early Life and Career
3. Challenges and Recognition
4. Final Years and Tragic End

Biography of William Lorenzo Robinson

William Lorenzo Robinson, better known as Weepin' Willie Robinson, was an American musician, singer, and bluesman. Born on December 30, 1926, in Atlanta, Georgia, he began his career in the 1950s and performed with a number of famous artists, including Steven Tyler and Bonnie Raitt.

Early Life and Career

In his childhood, William and his family worked as cotton and fruit pickers on the East Coast. He served in the military for a period of time before fate led him to Trenton, New Jersey, where he worked as a emcee and bellhop in several blues clubs. It was here in the 1950s that William met B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and many other celebrities. King encouraged Robinson to try his hand at singing, despite Robinson claiming to only know three songs, all belonging to B.B. King. However, with King's persuasion, Robinson performed with King's orchestra, marking the beginning of his musical journey.

For several decades, Robinson performed in local clubs. In 1991, he recorded the song "Can't Go Wrong," which was featured on a compilation album released by Chris Brown. Eight years later, his first solo album, "At Last, On Time," was released with the help of artists such as Susan Tedeschi and Mighty Sam McClain.

Challenges and Recognition

Throughout his life, Robinson faced various challenges, including homelessness and declining health. Despite these hardships, he never stopped playing music. He maintained friendships with influential musicians like B.B. King and Susan Tedeschi.

In 2005, Robinson was living on the streets and had little contact with his family. Local blues musicians organized a charity concert to raise funds to provide him with food and clothing. Eventually, Robinson moved to a specialized care facility, where he continued to perform in clubs and within the halls of the facility with visiting guests.

Final Years and Tragic End

In his final years, Robinson struggled with arthritis, which caused him great discomfort. However, his friends, particularly James Montgomery, continued to support him. Montgomery recorded Robinson at every concert he could attend, including the charity concert with Tyler and two Boston Music Award ceremonies.

On the morning of December 30, 2007, around 12:30 AM, Robinson returned to his room in Mount Pleasant assisted living facility and went to bed with a lit cigarette. Tragically, the resulting fire claimed the life of one of the most talented and beloved blues musicians of modern times.