NELL ROBINSON was my grandmother and when I decided to sing and perform, I wanted to honor her and feel a connection to my southern roots, so I sing under her name.

I named my debut album, Nell Robinson in Loango, after a small town near my family's farm. My father had a long career in the Air Force, so we moved around a lot, and my southern kinfolk, the farm and other parts of Alabama felt more like home than anywhere else. My mother and my aunt and uncles attended school in Red Level and the farmhouse is located “on the Brooklyn Road.”  I have very fond memories of buying bottled Coke and boiled peanuts at the country store in Loango. My paternal grandmother was Thelma Bates and I also have a dedication to her on Loango. When I think of these women (and my grandfathers too), the love and history I have been able to enjoy with my extended family -- I knew most of a slew of great-aunts and uncles -- I feel real lucky.

In 2007, after 25 years of singing by myself in my car, I created Nell Robinson Music to try some new music and house my ideas and dreams.