Anwar Robinson
{{short description|American singer/songwriter/musician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2010}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Anwar Robinson
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Anwar Farid Robinson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|4|21}}
| origin = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
| occupation = {{csv|Singer|music teacher|actor|songwriter|pianist|producer}}
| instrument = {{csv|Vocals|piano}}
| genre =
| years_active = 2001–present
| label =
| website = {{URL|www.anwarrobinson.com}}
}}
Anwar Farid Robinson (born April 21, 1979) is an American singer/songwriter/musician. He was the seventh place finalist on the fourth season of American Idol.
After moving with his family from Newark to Montclair, New Jersey in 1994, Robinson attended Montclair High School.Bruder, Jessica. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/27/nyregion/idolatry-but-in-a-good-way.html "Idolatry, But In A Good Way"], The New York Times, March 27, 2005. Accessed January 1, 2012. "Raised in Newark by his mother, Elaine Robinson, he began singing in third grade at the age of 8. He attended the Newark Boys Chorus School and, when the family moved in 1994, he transferred to Montclair High School as a sophomore."
''American Idol''
In August 2004, Robinson successfully auditioned for season four of Idol in Washington, DC. He proceeded to the Top 12, but was voted off during the 1970s dance music week on April 20, 2005, after his performance of Earth Wind and Fire's "September".
He went on to tour with the Top 10 contestants of season four and sang for over 500,000 people in over forty cities throughout the United States and Canada. He also participated in "Idols In Concert" at the newly built Rrazz Room at San Francisco's Hotel Nikko.
=Performances on ''American Idol''=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |
| Week #
!Theme !Song choice !Original artist !Result |
|---|
| Top 24 (12 Men)
|rowspan="3"|Contestant's Choice |"Moon River" |Safe |
| Top 20 (10 Men)
|Safe |
| Top 16 (8 Men)
|Safe |
| Top 12
|1960s |Safe |
| Top 11
|Billboard Number Ones |"Ain't Nobody" |Safe |
| Top 10
|1990s |Bottom 2 |
| Top 9
|Classic Broadway |from Camelot |Safe |
| Top 8
|Songs from Birth Year |"I'll Never Love This Way Again" |Dionne Warwick |Safe |
| Top 7
|1970s Dance Music |"September" |Eliminated |
Post-''Idol''
Robinson took on the role of "Collins" in the 2007–2008 national/international tour of Rent.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/110912.html Playbill News: "Idol" Finalists Will Join Rent Tour This Fall] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013011135/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/110912.html |date=October 13, 2007 }} He starred as Jesus in the Syracuse Stage production of Godspell that ran from November 25 to December 28, 2008.{{cite web | url=https://archive.today/20120910191027/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/123657-Prepare_Ye_Godspell_with_Idol_Finalist_Robinson_Begins_Syracuse_Stage_Run | title=Prepare Ye: Godspell, with "Idol" Finalist Robinson, Begins Syracuse … }}
He made his film debut in The Ski Trip 2: Friends and Lovers as "Owen".{{Citation|last1=Jamal|first1=Maurice|title=Friends & Lovers: The Ski Trip 2|date=2008-07-13|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1225738/combined|last2=Rankin|last3=Fleming|last4=Cruz|first2=John|first3=Daren|first4=Cassandra|accessdate=2017-04-28}}
On October 19, 2009, Robinson participated in a salute to Michael Jackson in "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough: Broadway Salutes The King of Pop" at New York City's legendary Birdland.{{cite web | url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Lewis_Ebersole_Jenkins_More_Salute_Michael_Jackson_October_19_at_Birdland_20090706 | title=Lewis, Ebersole, Jenkins & More Salute Michael Jackson October 19 at Birdland }}
Robinson's debut album, Everything, was released on January 25, 2011.[http://www.essence.com/entertainment/hot_topics/5_questions_for_anwar_robinson_on_american_idol_and_everything.php] {{Cite web |title=5 Questions for Anwar Robinson on 'Everything' - Essence.com |url=http://www.essence.com/entertainment/hot_topics/5_questions_for_anwar_robinson_on_american_idol_and_everything.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131224011/http://www.essence.com/entertainment/hot_topics/5_questions_for_anwar_robinson_on_american_idol_and_everything.php |archive-date=January 31, 2011 |access-date=January 31, 2011}}
Charity work
On March 2, 2010, Robinson joined Michelle Williams, Musiq Soulchild, Lil' Mo, Tye Tribbett, Nikki Ross & Anaysha Figueroa (both of Kirk Franklin), Nancey Jackson-Johnson, and James Hall under the executive production of Kim Burrell to record "Prayer Song" for Hope for Haiti, composed by Krishnar Lewis.{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelpundit.com/word-has-it-a-prayer-song-for-haiti-relief-11531 |title=Word Has It: "A Prayer Song" for Haiti Relief - GospelPundit.com // A new blog for gospel lovers |accessdate=2010-03-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308003247/http://www.gospelpundit.com/word-has-it-a-prayer-song-for-haiti-relief-11531 |archivedate=2010-03-08 }} In October 2010, he participated with Yolanda Adams in the Plainfield, New Jersey event where community leaders were trying to break the Guinness World Records for the largest gospel chorus in the world.{{Cite web |url=http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2010/10/trying_to_break_the_record_for_4.html |title=Trying to Break the Record for the Largest Gospel Choir. | NJ.com |access-date=2011-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325140649/http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2010/10/trying_to_break_the_record_for_4.html |archive-date=2012-03-25 |url-status=dead }}
Discography
=Albums=
- Everything (2011)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1869247}}
{{American Idol 4}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Anwar}}
Category:American male musical theatre actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:Singers from New Jersey
Category:American Idol participants
Category:Montclair High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:Musicians from Newark, New Jersey
Category:Musicians from Montclair, New Jersey
Category:Westminster Choir College alumni
Category:American male pianists
Category:21st-century American pianists
Category:African-American pianists