ANWAR ROBINSON:
AN AMERICAN IDOL…A TEACHER…A MUSICIAN…
AN ARTIST…and MORE…
Anwar Robinson is most recognized as one of the top finalists in television's American Idol 2005 competition. Anwar Robinson grew up in Newark, New Jersey and started his singing training at age eight with his acceptance to the Newark Boys' Chorus School. Robinson continued his training throughout his youth and also into college at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton; where as a tenor, Robinson was under the tutelage of the esteemed Dr. Scott J. McCoy. Upon college graduation, Anwar Robinson landed a gig as Musical Director for Patti's Kitchen, a pilot for Patti LaBelle's cooking show with the Food Network.
Not to rest on his prior accomplishments, Robinson decided to join the R&B group called the A.R.T. of SOUL, which was under the direction of noted songwriter/producer Joshua Thompson. The group signed a production deal with Thompson, who later took the group to sing live for the legendary Clive Davis, Founder of J. Records. Davis signed the group on the spot! The group members, who creatively were so different, decided to separate and were let out of their contract. Until another major musical opportunity would happen, Robinson decided to share his love of music with children and became a music teacher in the Elizabeth & West Orange, New Jersey Public School Systems.
Robinson, who always had a spiritual nature and strong faith, decided to return to his roots rendering music in local churches as a musician/singer/songwriter to uplift the congregations. One of these churches was Zoe Ministries, where Bishop E. Bernard Jordan is the Chief Prelate. Due to his singing at Zoe Ministries church, Anwar Robinson was asked to contribute several vocals to the album Resurrection such as the soloist for Reverend Run's (MTV's Run's House) song "His Love Will Never Die" as well as the vocals with Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Reverend RUN's sons (one of which is Diggy Simmons) on the same track. Several years later, the gospel world was buzzing about Anwar Robinson's inspirational singing and he was asked by The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin to be a guest performer when she taped a birthday television episode of Emeril Live.
In August 2004, Anwar Robinson successfully auditioned for season four of American Idol in Washington, DC. He proceeded to the Top 10 and was selected 7th overall in the reality TV competition. Robinson would later go on tour with only the Top 10 contestants from American Idol and perform for over 500,000 people in over 40 cities in North America and Canada.
From doing the American Idol tour, Anwar Robinson's fans requested more music from him. Therefore, Robinson released an album of cover songs entitled The Truth (About Love), which was available on his fan site. The album did temporarily slow down his fans' demands for more music by Robinson. In order to stay above his fans' needs for his music, Robinson has begun to work on an album The Truth II, which was original music. Also, Robinson has lent his voice to Inspiration, a collection of inspirational songs composed by Reverend Nolan Williams, Jr. that was released in 2006.
Even with national spotlight on his music career, Anwar Robinson felt he should continue to mentor the minds of youth by serving as Vice-Chairperson of New Jersey's United Way's "Celebrity Read Program". When he accepted role of "Collins" in national and international tour of Jonathan Larson's iconic rock opera RENT in 2007-2008, Robinson would not be able to continue with his New Jersey volunteer activities, except for a one night civic fundraising performance with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra to debut at The Prudential Hall of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on June 25, 2008. However, happily for his music fans in other cities, they had a chance to see Anwar Robinson in person. The tour made stops in over 40 cities in the United States, Canada, England and Japan.
With the RENT tour continuing, Robinson was revealed also as a theatrical actor with the film release The Ski Trip 2: Friends and Lovers by trailblazing new director Maurice Jamal. The film debuted on July 13, 2008 at the Fairfax Regency Theatre in Los Angeles, California. With critical acclaim for both his theatre and film work and the completion the RENT tour, Anwar Robinson was tapped to originate the lead role of "Raymond" in the musical play adaptation of E. Lynn Harris' award-winning novel Invisible Life for a 2008 workshop. The composers for the musical were world-renowned songwriters Ashford & Simpson. His most recent role was playing the lead, Jesus, in Stephen Schwartz's Godspell at Syracuse Stage.
In 2010, Anwar was asked to join Gospel Music Artist & Executive Producer Kim Burrell and Destiny's Child Star and Broadway's Michelle Williams and others in the recording of "Prayer Song" for Hope for Haiti released in Spring 2010 to benefit the victims of the Haitian Earthquakes.
Anwar's more recent accomplishments include completing his debut album, "EVERYTHING", which was released on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. This 10-track Album (produced and co-written by Cal Darling of CalQulated Music) is now available on most online music retailers, including iTunes, Amazon, and Rhapsody.
In addition to completing an additional 3-year term as a teacher of Music Education (Grades K-12) in the Elizabeth Public School System (New Jersey) and serving as a part of the Music Ministry at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City since 2009, Robinson also served as Musical Director, co-arranger and orchestrator of "A Taste of Chocolate", a musical by Timothy Ware, which premiered July 2012 at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York City.
Currently, Anwar is well underway with composing and performing music from his next work, an EP entitled, "AUTHENTIC ME", due for release in 2013.
America gave Anwar Robinson the title of an Idol. Yet, it is Robinson's love of humankind and God-Given talent before and after the TV competition that has kept Anwar Robinson involved in so many great opportunities and also on top of the industry and public demands for serving in a multitude of capacities within and even outside of the music arts.
