Robinson Eikenberry was not a typical producer, engineer, or musician. He was all that in the most brilliant and present way, and he had an ability to reach into the music and the musician and find the way to what felt like the best song in the world. He gave you that power; he was a teacher and a spiritual guide for many; he was supposed to grow old past us all. Our beloved Robinson unexpectedly died recently and left a huge void not just in the music community but among many in Santa Barbara and beyond.
Robinson wrote and recorded music with Bruce Winter under the name Fringe Deities in 1996 on the Household Ink Records label. Robinson’s sonic wizardry was witnessed by all who recorded with him. He pushed the limits of sound, whether with a microphone, tube amp, or kid’s toy with barnyard squawks. “Let’s put some fringe on that track,” he would say. He treasured unique microphones and equipment, and he was an active member of the Gearslutz Pro Audio Community, a forum for professional recording and mastering engineers. He started a pay-it-forward movement that went viral and still continues. That philosophy carried into all walks of his life. He secretly funded and inspired the creation of NYM, a local music venue, back in the ’90s. Creative events like Cinergy and the art studio Perch also sprang from Robinson’s secret investments.
Robinson was an illustrator, painter, and sculptor and earned many nicknames: Yoda, Buddha, Raw Bean Zen. He resided on a higher plane yet knew when it was time to play. He would often be seen giggling at flowers, sharing his infectious smile, and giving the warmest hugs to anyone he encountered. Children of all ages connected with Robinson, and when he recorded with them, he’d say his heart was filled with happiness and with their little voices in harmony with the world.
Many of his friends have written tributes to Robinson, and some of them follow:
“My first memories of Robinson are found many years back in the early ’90s. The first time I laid eyes on him, I was literally shocked by his uniqueness: long, wild, curly hair that covered his gold-rimmed glasses, freckles, a thick sports coat, and a pad of paper for sketching under his arm. Rob had a very particular way of walking: animated, purposeful and determined. He was a great hugger. If he had not seen you in a long time, or even in a short time, he would say: ‘HA! YOU!’ as he walked open-armed toward you. He never liked driving and got around without a car. Rob was different in the most wonderful ways.
“I could go on and on about Rob. His bubbling clairvoyance, his air of mystery, his soulful privateness, his vast openness, his ethereal energy, his infectious laugh. Robinson was his own universe, a completely kind universe. Maybe his soul was more evolved or maybe he had a little extra stardust in his bones.” —Cory Sipper
“Robinson and I shared 25 years finding answers to key questions about the fulfillment of the soul. He was an enlightened one who found a game worth playing and brought it into full bloom. He left us with a legacy of creative joy and a healthy sense of creative aggression here on what he regarded as ‘Campus Earth.’” —Court Johnson
“Robinson had been to the mountain and back, and brought with him what I would refer to as infinite wisdom, love, and understanding. The environment he created in the studio was whatever you needed. Oftentimes as a singer, songwriter, or general musician of any sort, you need a space to go through your feelings, fears, pain, hopes, and joys. Robinson created that space. Not only was he the best listener I’ve ever met, but he was also the best advice giver I’d ever met.” —Alastair Greene
“How can one man have such an impact? But it’s true. A brilliant mind always at work, Robinson emanated beauty, and his sparkle was always on. He was a diamond, a shooting star, shining like the sun, a hummingbird, a priest, Buddha, a leprechaun, encompassing pure love, hilarity, and joy.” —Susan Reeves
“He was endlessly creative in the search for evocative sonic textures and using the full range of what an instrument could produce. Need some echo-modulated fuzz-box mountain dulcimer on that track? Not a problem. Let’s do it!” —Sean Kennedy
“I met Robinson at age 17 in a cultural anthropology class at SBCC. He changed my life pretty quickly (introducing me to the woman who was my partner for 25 years, reminding me that the life of the spirit was more important than the life of things), and he continued to have a huge impact on my life for decades until his passing. I’m sure he’s not done inspiring me yet. It’s hard to know where to start when describing Robinson. He was a mystic, a loyal friend and a source of what seemed to be an inexhaustible amount of generosity and love. He was an excellent engineer and producer who was able to take on anything from a person’s first attempts at writing to the work of a lifelong professional and treat them both with equal utter reverence. He sought to help anyone who came to him to express their true nature and to do so with delight. Many people talk about performing random acts of kindness but Robinson put it into constant practice, making a game of showering strangers with mostly anonymous gifts and appreciation. His state of nearly constant joy did not come instantly or easily — he fought hard for many years to find balance and learn to protect his own open heart while keeping himself available to the world around him. He will inspire me through the rest of my life. Godspeed, Robinson.” —Glen Phillips
Robinson Eikenberry’s life will be celebrated on Sunday, July 30, with a bring-your-own picnic at 11 a.m. and memorial service at 1 p.m.: The Meadows, 801 Cold Spring Road. A Lobero Theatre concert happens that evening at 7, Fueled by Love, a Concert for Robinson, with artists Glen Phillips, Karla Bonoff, Alastair Greene, Cory Sipper, and many more. The event is free, but donations are encouraged for family expenses; extra proceeds will go to Girls Rock S.B., where a scholarship fund has been established in Robinson’s name.