RIP: Vancouver Radio Legend Red Robinson (1937-2023)

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Puget Sound Radio received news earlier this afternoon, that our very own Red Robinson passed away today at the age of 86. Red had been in declining health in recent months. This icon was the first notable disc jockey who brought rock and roll to Vancouver, not only on his radio programs on CJOR, but CKWX, then over to CFUN. Red was on top of who and what was happening when it came to many rock stars and entertainers coming to Vancouver, from Elvis and so many others.

from Red’s facebook page

From Kellie and Sherrie Robinson:
“With deep sadness and broken hearts, we bring the news that our beloved Dad, Red Robinson, passed this morning at 8:15am after a brief illness. We’re so glad we got to spend his final moments with him, and having his brother Bill there made it extra special.
Most people knew our Dad as a rock’n’roll DJ, a TV personality, an ad agency owner, a spokesperson, or through his philanthropic work. He was larger-than-life in a lot of ways, but to us he was a devoted father and grandfather, a loving husband to our late mom Carole, and a loyal friend to everybody.
Red’s departure leaves a huge hole in our lives, as well as the lives of everybody he touched in the worlds of radio, TV, music and entertainment. An event celebrating his amazing life will be announced soon, and we invite you to share your memories here on Facebook.
We can’t think of a better way to sum up Dad’s life than the lyrics to one his favourite Elvis songs, “If I Can Dream”:
Out there in the dark, there’s a beckoning candle… and while I can think, while I can talk, while I can stand, while I can walk… while I can dream, oh, please let my dream come true… right now.”

 

Our friend and owner of Radio West, Ted Wendland has a great overall view on the radio and television life of Red Robinson HERE

 

11 COMMENTS

  1. Red Robinson and the late Jack Cullen defined Vancouver radio for me when I was growing up. Now, the last constant has died. How very sad. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to listen to these two gentleman over the years at a time when Vancouver radio was worth listening to.

  2. Thanks Michael, wow, reminds me of when I was a teenager and my friend and I went to the PNE to see him and we kept pointing at his socks, he kept looking down trying to figure out what we were pointing at. So bad, but 14 year old girls having fun. He asked for requests and my friend asked for Trouble by Elvis as we had just seen King Creole and I asked for Makebelieve by Conway Twitty. RIP Red, you were a legend.

  3. Legend,Icon….and so much more to describe Red……and what a career. I along with so many were inspired by him. R.I.P. Thank You Micheal and Ted for this.

  4. Sorry Michael to hear of the passing of your friend Red Robinson. Interesting how He passed on April 1, he must have been a jokester!

    I remember laying on the beach on a hot summer day in White Rock listening to the transistor radio tuned into CFUN. The jingle would come on every 20 minutes or so and it would sing “Time to turn so that you don’t burn”

    Oh the good old days of Rock’n Roll and sunshine when we were young and vibrant!!

    I hope all is well with you,

    Have a great day! 😎 ☀

    Colleen

    • A moving and nostalgic comment, Colleen. It evoked fond memories, even though at the time I was an avid CHQM listener.

  5. RIP red indeed. I have many cassettes of his old sunday radio program on CISL including his on air 80th birthday party and his very last radio show ever the day the station shut down. I am very lucky. And simone sadly killed CISL (RIP CISL, you were the last really good music station in vancouver; fortunately funny AM 1040 came along since).

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