Ikey Robinson was born on 28 July 1904 in Dublin, Virginia, USA. He was married to Tressie Mitchell. He died on 25 October 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.