Sonny recalls:
"My tenure with Mrs. Smith allowed me the opportunity to sing in shows with legends such as Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward, James Cleveland, and a host of other gospels greats. I left Mrs. Smith to join the recording gospel quartet, The Welcome Travelers, where I sang first tenor and began playing guitar. The group was very talented. H. T. Liggins and Mac Hardin from the group went on to become Mel and Tim, R&B stars, who recorded "Backfield in Motion" and other hits."Next began the longest and what I consider the best time of my career. I was singing with childhood buddies Charles Drain, Lionel Stokes, John Hopkins, Tuman Hughes, and Leroy Terry, all Tabs recording artists for Vee Jay Records in Chicago, and also Scepter and Wand Records based in New York. Those two labels had other great acts such as The Shirelles, Dionne Warwick, Chuck Jackson, Curtis Mayfield, Gene Chandler, The Four Seasons, The Dells, Jerry Butler, and so many other greats.
"Singing with the Tabs took me to the Apollo Theater to work with the Miracles, Flip Wilson, Redd Foxx, Moms Mabley, and the Isley Brothers. Some additional venues were the Uptown in Philly, the Royal Ball, the Howard in D.C., the Regal in Chicago, and many others. Following the breakup of the Tabs, I returned home to St. Louis to work locally. I began to play rhythm guitar for the late blues legend Albert King, which led to my working at the Fillmore East and West. During this time I played with Matt Murphy, Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Koko Taylor, Paul Butterfield, Buddy Guy, Lonnie Brooks, and many others."
Sonny Robertson currently resides in Akron, Ohio, where he has formed the Howard Street Blues Band. He has had a hand in the development of some of the greatest young players in the area, as musicians and blues men:
BE SURE TO LOOK FOR SONNY'S ANNUAL MUSICAL BIRTHDAY BASH IN AKRON, AROUND APRIL.
Kissin' the Monkey.