Ikey Robinson was born on July 28, 1904 in Dublin, Virginia, USA. He was married to Tressie Mitchell. He died on October 25, 1990 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Jazz vocalist and bandleader, he played on the banjo, guitar, mandolin, clarinet and piano. His 1929 recording "Rock Me Mama" is often cited as an early use of the term "rock" as it evolved from black gospel into rock and roll.