Roland Robinson

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Roland Robinson, born in 1949, who died in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 8, 2004, was a longtime Memphis studio session bass player and songwriter originally from Detroit, Michigan. Robinson was a cousin and close friend of Teenie Hodges, Al Green's lead guitarist in the 1970s when Green recorded with the famed Hi Records staff band, the Hi Rhythm Section.

Robinson played for several years with Stax stars like Eddie Floyd and for several months in Jimi Hendrix's band, appearing on Hendrix's Nine to the Universe album. He regularly performed and recorded on albums for a few years with jazz drummer Buddy Miles.

He worked as a songwriter and performer in 1973 in a group called The New Cactus Band, cofounded with Duane Hitchings of the shortlived 1972 band called Cactus. Hitchings and Robinson, who also worked together in a group called Steel, later collaborated to write Rod Stewart's 1984 hit song, "Infatuation." Robinson recorded with the Mar-Keys and blues great Willie Cobbs, among others. His rock and roll band Quo Jr., composed of veteran r&b players, opened one show for the Sex Pistols' notorious first U.S. tour at the Taliesyn Ballroom in Memphis in 1978, performing regularly for several years into the 1980s.