These
photos and Spike’s comments were taken from a video, recorded
live at the Champa
Bar in Denver on a Saturday night, which aired in June 1986 on Denver’s
Channel 6 PBS station - as a segment on The Colorado Show, produced
by Mel Fenson. Announcer: Spike Robinson plays Jazz...that undefineable American music that makes your jump in your seat... and when Spike’s tenor sax wails and swings, you’ll know you’re listening to an expert . “My father was a Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Duke Ellington fan, so when I started taking clarinet lessons, I would reward myself, after practicing for three or four hours, by sitting down by myself and playing along with Benny Goodman, so I started playing jazz about the same time I started studying classical clarinet.” Announcer: For 30 years, Spike Robinson was both a jazz musician and an engineer. An engineer by day for Honeywell , Spike always spent his nights and weekends playing jazz. After retiring from engineering, Spike then spent all his time as a jazz musician. “Some people like to work at music...they like to play studio jazz; they like to play in pit bands for stage shows; they like to play classical. To me, there was always work in music, and I never liked to use music as work. To me it was always supposed to be pleasure, and still is.” Announcer: Spike... a veteran of the jazz scene, has some advice for young people, who are considering careers in music. “I think the thing they have to recognize is the amount of time expenditure and money expenditure that’s necessary to become a professional musician. I always get a kick out of hearing about doctors and lawyers practicing... the big difference is when they practice, they make lots of money. When musicians practice, they don’t make a cent. Of course, I look at it from the jazz point of view or the classical point of view - and there isn’t a lot of money in music - you have to love doing it. That’s all.” Announcer: Spike Robinson has made musical tours of the United States and Europe. He has been recorded with various bands and has also cut his own albums. What does he prefer the best? “I much prefer the clubs and the jazz parties and the closeness with the audience - it provides better communication with the audience and good eye contact. I like the intimate side of the jazz club."
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