Gil Robbins, folk singer with the highwaymen dies at 80

Gil Robbins, group a singer, guitarist and songwriter with the people of the highwaymen, and a fixture in the folk scene, died on Tuesday at his home in Esteban Cantu, Mexico. He was 80.

Gil Robbins, Center, a member of the 1960s folk group the highwaymen, and the father of Tim Robbins. The latest on the arts, coverage of live events, critical reviews, multimedia extravaganzas and much more. Turn on the discussion.

The cause was prostate cancer, his wife, Mary.

Mr Robbins, the singer and bassist with the Cumberland three and the Belafonte singers and most powerful partner with Tom Paxton was, 1962 joined the highwaymen. The group, founded had hits with "Michael" ("Michael, row the boat country") and the Leadbelly song "Cotton fields." in 1958 at Wesleyan College in Connecticut, one who scored the top collegiate style folk groups,

With Mr Robbins on board, baritone sing and play the Guitarrón, an oversize Mexican string guitar, managed the Group's popularity as he continues a transition to more socially conscious music. Mr Robbins performed on five albums, the group for United Artists before dissolution in 1964, including the live album "Hootenanny with the highwaymen," "one more time" and "Homecoming."

Gilbert Lee Robbins, the father of actor Tim Robbins, 3 April 1931 in Spokane, Washington, born and grew up in Los Angeles.

Percussion with the long beach Symphony Orchestra while still in high school played, he won a music scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was the drum major of the marching band. He left school before graduating and entered the air force, where he the drum major and band conductor for the 542d Division, based in Selma, Alabama was

In 1960 he was awarded the Cumberland three, which was founded by John Stewart, singer at the behest of roulette of records and trio later replaced guitarist Dave guard in Kingston. The label sent the trio to New York, where Mr. Robbins was quickly in the Greenwich Village folk music scene active and friendly musicians such as Dave Van Ronk and Ronnie Gilbert of Weber.

After recording three albums, two of them dedicated civil war songs, with the Cumberland three, he joined the Belafonte singers, a 12-man group of singers and musicians, which Harry Belafonte toured with.

After the highwaymen dissolved, Mr. Robbins took the Gaslight, Club on Macdougal Street, at the end of the 1960s. He directed the choir at the Church of St. Joseph in Greenwich Village and founded a choral group, the occasional singers who work, who performed.

He was also in off Broadway productions and in the ill-fated Broadway musical "Rainbow Jones", after an appearance in the music box Theatre closed in 1974. He later appeared in small roles in the films "Bob Roberts" (with Tim Robbins), "dead man walking," "cradle will rock" and "Wide Awake."

In addition to his wife, a flute player, met it on U.C.L.A., and his son Tim, Manhattan, another son, David, he is survived by Los Angeles; the San Rafael, California; two daughters, Adele, also of Los Angeles, and Gabrielle, a brother of thousand oaks, California; and four grandchildren.

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