Businessman, record company and nightclub owner, record producer, credited as songwriter
Known for
Peacock Records, Duke Records
Don Deadric Robey (November 1, 1903 – June 16, 1975)[1] was an American record label executive, songwriter, and record producer. As the founder of Peacock Records and the eventual owner of Duke Records, he was responsible for developing the careers of many rhythm and blues artists in the 1950s and 1960s.[2] He was the first African American record mogul, 10 years prior to Berry Gordy's Motown label[3][4] (though the first Black-owned label, Black Swan Records, belonged to Harry Pace in the 1920s).[5]
Robey was notorious for his controversial business practices;[6] he reputedly used criminal means, including violence and intimidation, as part of his business model,[7] though he was held in high regard by some of the musicians who worked for him.[8] He was credited with writing or co-writing many of the songs recorded by Duke/Peacock artists, either under his real name, or under the pseudonym of Deadric Malone. However, in many cases, he was merely a publisher and was not involved in the writing. Many other label owners paid little for songs and controlled the publishing, but Robey was one of the few to disguise the real writers, making it nearly impossible to assess who wrote what on Duke, Peacock, Back Beat, and his other labels.[9]
^"The Dead Rock Stars Club – The 1970s". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
^Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 364. ISBN 1852279370.
^Cite error: The named reference Corcoran 2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Hogan, Ed (November 1, 1903). "Don Robey Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
^"The History of Black-Owned Record Labels". JSTOR Daily. July 19, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
^Cite error: The named reference vaporous was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Friedman, Josh Alan (October 27, 2008). Tell the Truth Until They Bleed: Coming Clean in the Dirty World of Blues and Rock 'n' Roll. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 18. ISBN 978-0879309329 – via Google Books.
^Cite error: The named reference bhof was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Don Deadric Robey (November 1, 1903 – June 16, 1975) was an American record label executive, songwriter, and record producer. As the founder of Peacock...
Robey is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: DonRobey (1903–1975), American record executive George Robey (1869–1954), English music hall...
Peacock Records was an American record label, founded in 1949 by DonRobey in Houston, Texas, United States. "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton was a hit...
My Love" is a blues ballad. It was written by Ferdinand Washington and DonRobey and published in 1954. The song's theme is captured in the title and the...
Frederick Robert "Rick" Robey (born January 30, 1956) is an American former college and professional basketball player. At 6'11", he played the center...
Scott (with an additional credit given to Duke Records owner/producer DonRobey aka Deadric Malone). Scott's brass arrangement "upped the excitement ante"...
Steps from the Blues" (Don D. Robey, John Riley Brown) – 2:34 "Cry Cry Cry" (Don D. Robey) – 2:43 "I'm Not Ashamed" (Don D. Robey, Joseph Scott) – 2:36...
owned by impresario and record producer DonRobey. In 1950 she signed a five-year recording contract with Robey's Peacock Records. Her first Peacock record...
"Share Your Love with Me" is a song written by Alfred Braggs and Deadric Malone. It was originally recorded by blues singer Bobby "Blue" Bland. Over the...
"Cry Now" contains elements of "Blind Man", written by Joseph Scott and DonRobey, and performed by Bobby "Blue" Bland. "Hammer Dance" contains elements...
music writers believe it was written by Joe Medwick, although Duke owner DonRobey (using the pseudonym "Deadric Malone") appears on the songwriting credits...
is credited to have been written by 'Deadric Malone' (a pseudonym of DonRobey), owner of Duke, which was a customary practice for some producers and...
Inferno" Leroy Green Ron Kersey Non-album single 1999 "Don't Cry No More" DonRobey Memphis Blues 2010 "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" Bennie Benjamin Gloria...
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