King, Robbie - Showtime In The Main Lounge

Tracks

		Track Name	Length
	1	Summertime	02:41
	2	Borneo Boy	03:47
	3	Showtime in the Main Lounge	02:41
	4	Song for My Father	06:32
	5	Robbie's Thang	03:16
	6	Mary, Don't You Weep	03:34
	7	Grator	03:56
	8	What's Your Name	04:25
	9	The Gospel 12 Step	04:18
	10	Motatoes (Jerry Doucette, guitar)	02:44
	11	Tencegrity	04:38
	12	All About My Girl	03:23
	13	A Change Has Got to Come	06:46
	14	Mary, Don't You Weep, Part 2	02:26
	15	So Long	03:55

Photos

Videos

No Video

Information/Write-up

Robbie King (1947–2003) was one of Vancouver’s most gifted keyboardists, a master of the Hammond B3 whose sound rippled far beyond the West Coast. Born and raised in Malartic, Quebec, he made his way west and quickly became a cornerstone of Vancouver’s R&B, soul, and rock circuits. By the mid-1960s he was already in demand, playing with Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers before moving through Papa Bear’s Medicine Show, Brahman, and The Hometown Band. He later became a regular in the Hans Staymer Band and, with his deep groove and arranging skill, could shift seamlessly between blues, jazz, and pop.

In the early 1970s, King joined Skylark, the pop-soul ensemble whose hit “Wildflower” remains a Canadian classic. His Hammond textures helped define the group’s sound, and his playing made him a sought-after session hand. Through the ’70s, ’80s, and beyond, King became a go-to touring and recording musician: his organ grooves and sure-footed touch turned up everywhere from Vancouver blues bands to sessions for visiting stars.

King’s reach extended internationally as well: he worked with Motown legends Diana Ross & The Supremes, and later appeared alongside Ronnie Hawkins, Long John Baldry, and Bryan Adams. Closer to home, he anchored Vancouver clubs like the Yale Hotel and brought fire and swing to the Cal Batchelor Band, where his Hammond sound was central to their blues-rock bite.

In 2004, the posthumous album Showtime in the Main Lounge captured his B3 at full throttle, recorded both in the studio and live at the Yale, with guest turns from friends like Jerry Doucette. Remembered for his generosity, humor, and unshakable feel, Robbie King remains a touchstone of Vancouver’s music history — a player whose organ could roar like a jet or whisper like a prayer, always with soul at the centre.
-Robert Williston

Producers Notes
In 1981, I found myself at the Savoy nightclub listening to the R&B house band who called themselves simply ‘The Best’, because arguably, they were. The driving force of this band was a slight, swaying figure, bearded and bereted, creating swirling pastiches of musical wonderment from an enormous music machine, which seemed to be an extension of himself. I introduced myself to this man, Robbie King, and he befriended me immediately, something I found he did with nearly everyone.who shared his passion for music.

21 years later, I found myself with a Hammond B3, with bass pedals, a recording studio, with few clients, and a burning desire to hear Robbie King in a classic organ trio. While his prodigious talent has illuminated countless recording projects around the world he had not been recorded as a leader, on the instrument with which he was so uniquely able to express himself. I found an ally in the wonderful Chris [The Wrist] Norquist, and together we coaxed Robbie into the studio, and into the marvelous musical journey which followed.

Bed tracks were recorded in early 2003 at Aero Music Studio, and were supplemented with a recorded live performance @ the Yale in Sept 2003. Additional guest tracks were recorded in accordance with Robbie’s vision for the project. The contributions of the musicians, artists and engineers to this project is a tribute to the admiration and esteem in which Robbie King was held. All involved considered it an honour.

When Robbie passed he left his many, many friends with a huge sense of loss. We hope that this album helps with that..
Oliver Conway, Octtober 2004

Robbie King: Hammond B3 organ, bass pedals
Chris Nordquist: drums
Steve Hilliam: tenor saxophone
David Say: tenor and alto saxophone
Terry Townson: trumpet
Bill Runge: alto saxophone
Jerry Doucette: guitar
Robbie Steininger: guitar, keyboards
Steve Soucy: piano

Produced by Oliver Conway and Chris Nordquist
Recorded at Aero Music Studio and At the Yale Hotel, Vancouver British Columbia
Recorded and Mixed by Oliver Conway
Mastered by Ken Burke

Graphic Design by James Badger

Robbie represents the struggle of the artist. The openness and sensitivity that fueled his creativity and made him so unique was in large measure the flip side of the harsh reality of life in a hard-nosed business. His loss is truly tragic.
-Jim Byrnes

Robbie Loved Drummers!
Every drummer I ever talked to, had that great fortune & privilege of Robbie King, always said the same thing: what always a mischievous little-smile to go with that hug!
Chris “The Wrist” Nordquist

He laid more love on a note than anyone I’ve known. He was master musician and I miss him.
Willie MacCalder

It’s not accurate to call Robbie King an organ player. He simply used one to play Robbie King every track he laid hands on. Imagine a kind man with a quick wit, with a B-3 chopped to pieces and tuned to fit inside the back of his van. He lived on the road and out of a sack, so he could play 15 jobs in a row and make it sound like he had just opened a Pipel organ right down the street from the Conservatory.
-Tom Lavin October 2004

Once you reach a certain level of mastering your art, you have a responsibility to pass it on. For Robbie King, and those of us lucky enough to know and play with him, music was all about passion and love and communication. He gave all of himself, all of the time. We saw it in his playing, in his smile, in his generosity, and in his joy. He made us better players and better people. Robbie lived the way we all wish we could live, with love and passion for every note he played, every person he touched, every conversation, or setting he found himself in.
Michael Kaeshammer

Comments