Noel Robinson – Making music 35 years and counting

Noel Robinson is a name inextricably linked to praise & worship within our Black-majority churches (BMCs). His latest album, Change The Atmosphere, is out now. It’s packed with congregational as well as personal devotional songs, wrapped in rich melodies and memorable scriptural declarations. In my 50-plus years’ involvement in British Gospel, Noel Robinson stands out as one of its most gifted musicians. He’s a producer, songwriter and a dynamic minister of music with a prophetic edge. His voice and music are consistently celebrated on local and international platforms. He bridges denominational and non-denominational cultural divides, and his multiple awards and accolades testify to his immense contribution. This interview celebrates his remarkable 35 years in music ministry!

I first saw Noel on the legendary gospel music show People Get Ready (PGR) in the late 1980s. (You can watch Noel and others on PGR episodes on YouTube – thanks to original co-presenter Juliet Coley.)

At the time, I didn’t realise I was witnessing the closure of volume one and the start of volume two in the book of Noel Robinson’s life.

THE GIFTED MUSICIAN

Noel was born in the UK, the fourth child of seven siblings. His parents, Austin and Merva Robinson from St Catherine, Jamaica, were part of the generation that played a fundamental role in shaping modern Britain. Sadly, Noel’s mother died when he was aged five, a pivotal moment in his life.

NOEL ROBINSON (NR): I didn’t know until in recent years that my mother was a proficient church pianist. At six years old, my father meant everything to me. As an active church musician, he gave me my first real guitar, and I was consumed by it. My schoolteachers were shocked at my skill level, so as part of music lessons they sent me to the Royal College of Music, where I studied classical guitar and played double bass in my school orchestra. By my teens, I had probably played over 10,000 hours of guitar. Growing up I had a wide range of musical influences, including rock with Santana; soul with Earth, Wind & Fire; and Brit-Funk with Hi Tension, plus Kainos and Paradise. Somehow it combined with the country music style from my church tradition. I didn’t actually hear US gospel until I was 13 years old! Of course that changed everything!

In my late teens, I represented my denomination, Church Of God Of Prophecy (COGOP), at its US headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, winning the string section for musicianship.

JULIET FLETCHER (JF): That must have been an incredible endorsement of your musical gift.
NR: Yes! It was a beautiful time. I led my local church choir at Tubbs Road in north London for years before becoming the National Music Director of COGOP and influencing convention planning.

JF: When I saw you on PGR, what were your expectations?
NR: I thought, This is it! I’m going to be a full-time musician. Because Roy Francis (PGR show producer) and his younger brother John Francis (PGR co-presenter) had my band called Canticles play for The Inspirational Choir on their successful tours everywhere, and they then asked me to be the guitarist for the programme. The church wasn’t employing musicians with salaries that could support a family, so many talented musicians were moving into the secular music industry as a result. But God had other plans for me.

THE CALLING

NR: I was developing a deep consciousness of God’s calling on my life. I recall a sister from church, Violet Palmer, had an extraordinarily powerful way of leading a flow of choruses through song, though it wasn’t called ‘worship leading’ back then. Its effect on the people impacted me. One day, while praying, I distinctly heard the Lord say: “Noel, I have called you for the House.” At first, I dismissed it, but soon after, my father, who was in Jamaica, called and said: “Noel, I had a dream about you. You were in a room and God told you, ‘I have called you for the House.’”. He repeated the exact words God had spoken to me. That confirmation made it undeniable!

JF: Was this around the time you began to work with Graham Kendrick?
NR: Yes! It was Les Moir from Kingsway Music who asked if I’d play guitar on Graham’s tour following the ‘March for Jesus’ initiative. Steve Thompson and I were the only two Black musicians in his band. During our second gig, I had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, a deep weeping that lasted for days. The tour was called ‘Pray for Revival’, and since then, my ministry has carried that calling.

Graham Kendrick became my greatest mentor, teaching me that ‘The Gift’ is the music, but ‘The Calling’ is something you have to discover and grow into. He has spiritually backed me even through the most difficult times of my life.

THE SONGWRITER & PRODUCER

JF: You are widely recognised as the first person to bring worship leading and teams into Black-majority churches.
NR: Yes! It was a major shift. I developed an insatiable hunger for the Word of God and His Presence, and all my songs were birthed from that. Graham mentored me in songwriting, and I have since published over 100 songs. I’m comfortable with what God has given me and see His prophetic move through my music.

JF: While I was at the BBC making Gospel Train for Radio 2, I was so blessed to have you lead and direct many of my live shows, and introducing me to Karen Gibson who spawned the Kingdom Choir. You were extremely central to the overwhelming success of one show featuring Ron Kenoly from Birmingham Town Hall, which had a capacity audience. That was the last event held at the Town Hall before it closed for major refurbishments.
NR: That show caused me to become Ron Kenoly’s European Music Director and band leader, which was a breakthrough bringing tremendous change for me.

Noel has released four independent albums, his 1996 debut, O Taste and See, to Devoted. In 2014, nearly 20 years later, he became the first Black UK-based worship leader to sign a publishing deal with Integrity Music, the world’s largest Christian label.

Through his visionary ‘Kingdom Worship Movement’ Renewal, Noel has inspired worship leaders of all backgrounds. As a producer, he is known for mentoring and providing opportunities for first-timers – Carmen Wiltshire MBE, Sonnie Badu, Guvna B, and G-Force, to mention a few. Noel has also co-written songs with stellar figures, like Israel Houghton, Ron Kenoly, and Matt Redman. His collaboration with Donna Akodu produced the powerful anthem Rain, which resonates with congregations worldwide.

His latest albums, Outrageous Love and Change the Atmosphere, continue to deliver vibrant, uplifting songs for congregational worship and personal reflection.

Over the years, Noel has consistently gathered excellent world-class teams of musicians and singers. Yet on his own, with guitar, his distinctive voice has graced local to stadium events for years, leading for Morris Cerullo crusades, Festival Of Praise, Spring Harvest, Evangelist J John’s Philo Trust meetings, Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke & Daniel Kolenda Christ for All Nations Crusades, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede’s National Day Of Prayer & Worship, The House Of Parliament Prayer Breakfast… TBN and God TV are just two broadcasting outlets for which he has co-presented and had his own series. He is also an Ambassador for All Souls Langham, and a champion for Compassion UK. And this doesn’t include his Caribbean and other regional tours or the 50-plus UK churches he ministers in on an annual basis!

JF: Noel, what is your final thought as you journey to what lies ahead?
NR: I believe we have entered an extraordinary season in the global Church. It is an exciting time to witness the transition of generations, where the prophetic has never been more potent. God’s Spirit – the Lord of the Harvest – is pouring out upon all flesh (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17), and music is central to His move. When I was planning my latest album, I thought of a ‘collection’, but the Holy Spirit said, “No”. He had fresh new songs for Change the Atmosphere. I’m so grateful to be a part of what God is doing!

JF: Noel, whether through your guitar, your band, or your recordings, you continue to change the atmosphere for the glory of God!

Visit www.noelrobinson.com to purchase Change the Atmosphere and learn more about Noel’s Renewal Residential Worship Retreat, which runs 2-4 July at Ashburnham Place, East Surrey EN3T 9NF.

JULIET FLETCHER
Creative Director of Green Tree Productions and Windrush Church and Music. She is also the founder of SongShare, www.songshare.co.uk