Bobby Robinson's Harlem Shop Faces Eviction

[Guest upsetterfc]

I just got this off a DJ list I'm on. But this is now typical of NYC, where the old established stores are being replaced by generic malls for tourists and newly moved residents...

News article on eviction: Harlem icon sings blues Impresario, 90, facing eviction

STAND UP HARLEM! STAND WITH HARLEM!

Protest the Corporate Take Over of Harlem

Rally and Demo for Bobby's Happy House

Protest the Eviction of Harlem's

First Black-Owned Business on 125th Street

Friday, August 3, 2007

5 PM to 7 PM

2337 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

(Between 125th & 126th Streets)

Legendary record producer Bobby Robinson, now 90 years of age, opened

Bobby's Record House, the first Black-owned business on 125th Street,

in 1946. Robinson, a prominent African American independent record

producer established six record labels between 1952 and 1962, Red

Robin Records, Whirlin' Disc Records, Fury Records, Everlast Records

and Enjoy Records. Robinson produced numerous million-selling records

by such notable performers as Wilbert Harrison, the Shirelles, Lee

Dorsey, Elmore James, Dave "Baby" Cortez, and Gladys Knight & the

Pips' first hit, "Every Beat of My Heart."

Years before Russell Simmons and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Bobby

Robinson's Enjoy Records was the first hip-hop label. In 1979, he

released "Superrappin'" by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.

Robinson went on to record other first-generation hip-hop artists

including Pumpkin & Friends, the Funky Four + One More, Spoonie

Gee, and the Treacherous Three (featuring Kool Moe Dee).

Bobby Robinson also produced Doug E. Fresh's "Just Having Fun (Do The

Beatbox)," the song that introduced beatboxing on record.

At issue is whether or not Bobby's Happy House and other local Black

businesses can remain in the "Harlem Has Arrived" corporate takeover

of the world renowned community once called the "Black Mecca" in the

US. For sure, the subsidized corporation takeover of Harlem is moving

full speed ahead with the complicity of presidential hopeful Mayor

Michael Bloomberg, the Board of Trustees of Columbia University, the

Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and elected officials.

[Tomangoes]

You would have thought it would be made into a 'working' museum at the least. Next the Appollo will go.

The reality is that real estate value in Manhattan is as high as its buildings, so sentiment wont buy much time.

As Edwin Starr(RIP) once sang 'Aint it hell up in Harlem' - coming true I think for Bobby Robinson.

Ed

[Peter99]

Thats an interesting post mate. How sad.

[Guest Polyvelts]

Not to quibble, but as great as Bobby's is, I bet it wasn't the first

black-owned business on 125th street. I believe the first black - owned

businesses in Harlem were created around the 1890's, not long after

Harlem was first developed. By the 1920's, Harlem not only was home to

many successful black business men, but also the first black business

women millionaires (e.g. A'Lelia Walker) ... Independent free black

businessmen have been a part of the New York scene since at least the

early 1700's ....

[Guest upsetterfc]

In historical terms, the shop may have been the first black-owned on 125th Street during the Harlem Renaissance. But I seriously doubt that is ture.

Before the subway was built, the area was mostly German/Eastern European Jewish. The business owners remained as many blacks moved out of the horribly decrepit conditions in Chelsea to the new apartments in Harlem.

Wikipedia's article on Harlem explains in more detail.