Enjoy Records Founder Dies

Bobby Robinson, the founder of seminal old school hip-hop label, Enjoy Records passed away on Friday (January 7), reports New York’s Daily News.

The 93 year old Harlem staple was one of the first men to put out rap records. Among the artists that he signed included Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Spoonie Gee.

He also owned a record store called Bobby’s Happy House on 125th Street that was opened for over 60 years and also had the distinction of being the first black owned business on the historic block.

In addition to Enjoy, Robinson also started Red Robin, Whirlin’ Disc, Fire and the Fury record labels, where he had put out LPs by Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Channels, Elmore James and hundreds more.

As of press time, Robinson’s funeral arrangements are uncertain. —Elan Mancini