Dr. James Robinson (b. 1948, Maine) is an American filk music songwriter and performer (known as Dr. Jane Robinson prior to his 2004 sex reassignment surgery) whose songs focus on scientific themes, particularly paleontology.
Robinson earned a doctorate in biology from UCLA in 1976, and went on to teach at the University of California, Berkeley.
His filk albums include Dr. Jane's Science Notes (later reissued as Wackademia), Fossil Fever, Bedlam Cats, Midlife Crisis and Remains.
Robinson has won two Pegasus Awards (2000, Best End of the World Song, for "Out of a Clear Blue Sky"; and 1992, Best Writer/Composer); and has been nominated an additional 14 times.[1] Robinson was inducted into the Filk Hall of Fame in 2000.[2]
Robinson's life partner was the late Cynthia McQuillin, who reportedly said, upon meeting James for the first time, "At last I get to meet the man I fell in love with!" He lives in Oakland, California.[3]