Reginald Robinson is a virtuoso ragtime pianist, performing in concerts, lectures and collaborative arts programming. His compositions are featured on five albums, as well as in theater and film. In 2004, Robinson was awarded the rare and distinguished John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Award for his innovative ragtime piano works and music research.

Robinson’s love for traditional jazz styles started in 1984 with his older brother listening to Swing recordings at home. Two years later, a city-funded arts program gave an assembly at his school called “From Bach to Bebop” with a live jazz ensemble–only adding to his interest. Inseparable from the piano for the years that followed, he absorbed himself in self-directed study of ragtime piano.

In 1992, with the help of pianist Jon Weber, Robinson’s professional music career began when he recorded a demo of seventeen original tunes. After his first album The Strongman (1993) was released on Delmark Records, Robinson received an invitation from pianist Marian McPartland to appear as a guest on her popular radio show “Piano Jazz.” Robinson released Sounds in Silhouette (1994) and Euphonic Sounds (1998) on Delmark Records.

Robinson’s music has been used in theater and film: The Goodman Theater productions of Each One As She May (1995), Intimate Apparel (2003); as well as in the independent film Compensation (2000). He served as a contributing historian for the 2010 documentary Chicago’s Black Metropolis.

In 2004, Robinson was awarded the rare and distinguished John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Award for his innovative ragtime piano works and music research. Following this, Robinson produced two self-released albums, Man out of Time (2007) and Reflections (2010).

In June of 2017 Robinson worked with Illinois Humanities to present “An Evening at the Pekin Theater,” the first owned and operated African American music theater in the world.

In 2018 Robinson was commissioned by pianist Norman Malone and Kartemquin Films to compose a ragtime work for the left hand, and premiered a work in tribute to pioneer African American bandleader James Reese Europe, commissioned by Symphony Center Presents, on November 2nd at Symphony Center. Later that year, Robinson gave a performance/ lecture on Scott Joplin’s music at The Schomburg in New York.

In 2019, Robinson teamed up with MacArthur fellows Susan Sygall (CEO of Mobility International-USA and the Women’s Institute on Leadership & Disability) and flutist Claire Chase for a special music concert of disability activism and artistry.

In addition to performing, Robinson is internationally known for his lectures at colleges and universities, which have aided in preserving the legacy of African American history.