Janice Robinson

Born and raised in Garfield, New Jersey, Janice Robinson discovered music early in life. Her sense of isolation as one of the few African-American children amid Polish and Italian families, together with the instinctive defiance of a Baptist preacher’s daughter, delayed any serious commitment to her abilities until high school. At Adelphi University she majored in theater while devoting countless private hours to songwriting in the music room. Once she left the university, she performed regularly with an assortment of bands between 1989 and 1995. During one of those years she toured Europe with a dance-music group, an experience that acquainted her with the rigors of nonstop travel while also furnishing valuable contacts abroad. An extended visit to Italy brought her together with Joe Vannelli, who joined her on the early compositions “Children” and “Sweetest Day of May.”

Robinson achieved her first major success in 1994 with the hit “Dreamer,” recorded alongside the Italian-based club outfit Livin’ Joy. Following that breakthrough she returned to the United States and concentrated on songwriting, supplying material for Wyclef Jean, Taylor Dayne, Soul Solution, Junior Vasquez, and David Morales-Robinson. The wish to gain greater credit for her work eventually prompted her to step back into the spotlight as a performer. Warner Brothers Records soon signed her, and in 1999 the label issued her debut album, The Color Within Me. The record highlighted Robinson’s singular vocal approach, which blended rock elements with R&B, and enlisted an array of distinguished session players that included Jim Keltner, Waddy Wachtel, Ry Cooder, Steve Ferrone, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Landau, and Richard Page.