Kim Robins bluegrass album Raining in Baltimore out July 21st

Pinecastle Records were pleased to announce the signing of bluegrass artist, Kim Robins to the label, and released to radio the first single “Eye For An Eye”, from her 12 track album RAINING IN BALTIMORE, which drops July 21, 2017(Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com). The lead-off single and pre-grat track is available now.  

Kim Robins couldn’t be more proud than to have joined forces with Pinecastle, or excited about her first release with her new album. 

The attractive 51-year old (yes really! Facebook Portrait) shared:
 “I am grateful to Pinecastle Records for giving me the opportunity to finally live out my dream. It is such an honor to be on an outstanding label with such amazing artists. I am so humbled by everyone who has helped me achieve this goal. I hope you all enjoy this project as much as I have enjoyed making it. When I first heard Eye For An Eye, I knew it was a song I wanted to record. I loved the melody and it gave me the ability to show off my vocal range.I tend to gravitate toward songs with a darker subject and this song was right up my alley.”

Kim Robbins - PHOTO GALLERY

Appearing with Kim on the new single, Eye For An Eye (written by Kim Fox), are Ron Stewart, Adam Steffey, Harold Nixon, Shannon Slaughter and Alicia Wasson. Shannon Slaughter, who appears as a guest vocalist throughout much of the project had this to say:

“Kim has really delivered the goods with her latest project! I’m so proud to be a part of it.

A-plus singing and A-list picking make this a record you’ll want to add to your collection for 2017. It’ll definitely be in mine!”

“A perfect song for her style” -Bluegrass Today (Jan 31, 2017) 

Kim Robins Interview with (22 March 2017) From: Bluegrass Planet Radio

Listen to "Kim Robins - 3.22.17" on Spreaker.

About Kim Robins

Genre: Bluegrass

Location: Indiana (IN)

Record Label: Pinecastle Records

Married to businessman and college basketball official Mark Gines

Robins resides in her hometown of Bloomington, Indiana.

Balancing her career as an RN with time enjoyed with her husband, daughter, two stepsons, and two grandchildren.

Born Kim Brummett, in Bloomington, Indiana she was born into a musical family and singing from the age of five in church and in her father’s band, Robins was influenced largely by the music of Connie Smith, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Ray Price, Bill Monroe, and Barbara Mandrell. She was an original member, and the youngest, of the Little Nashville Opry in Nashville, Indiana. Her mother’s encouragement that she practice daily and sing loud paid off as she traveled all over the country, opening for legends such as Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell and The Oak Ridge Boys.

Robins grew up with music in her veins but, at age 19, gave her first love a backseat to a new love – her baby girl. 

After earning two college degrees, she raised her daughter single handed and establishing a career, Robins met and married renowned banjo player former Blue Grass Boy and active musician Butch Robins (Facebook; born on May 12, 1949; who released a 1977 album titled Forty Years Late on Rounder Records) and her dream of performing music was reignited.

With Butch’s encouragement, she started writing music and finding venues to showcase her powerful vocals – starting with singing backup harmony with bluegrass band Misty Stevens and Reminisce Road. Kim and Butch were divorced in 2006.

Since then, Robins gained attention with her high-energy, contemporary sound, performing at the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America, The Folk Alliance in Memphis, and opening for Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice at the Historic Jonesborough Bluegrass Series.

Her 13 track debut CD, 40 YEARS LATE, released Jan 25, 2013 (Amazon UK | UK iTunes | Amazon.com) was a collection of intimate stories that reflected Robins’ own journey as told through a mix of original songs and remakes of bluegrass and country legends blending the sounds of hardcore traditional and progressive bluegrass.

All at once feminine yet fierce, transparent yet tough, vulnerable yet versatile, 40 Years Late included 12 songs that centred on the theme of heartbreak and redemption. 

Of the seven which were written by Robins herself, the title track dealt with the heartache and redemption of the relationship between a little girl and her father, and of the heartache and redemption of putting passions on hold. 

With a hint to her years on the road as a medical sales rep, dreaming of one day being able to perform music again, it spoke to anyone who has given a back seat to dreams.

And years out on the highway has brought me where I am today

We all have a dream but some of us must wait

But we are all defined by the choices that we make

This time I’m gonna make it work, I’m just 40 years late.​

In “It’s Me Again,” written by Sheila Stephen and Jerry Salley, Robins sang from the point of view of a betrayed lover:                   

When the touch you left me for, Don’t satisfy you anymore, You’ll close your eyes and you’ll pretend, It’s me again.​

And, in her original “Cry,” she sang from the point of view of the betrayer: I tried a million times to tell him but I couldn’t find a way out, They say the truth is hidden in a lie, Until a warm night in autumn, at a motel close to our home, The truth I no longer could deny

Traditional bluegrass fans could hone in on remakes from the likes of Bill Monroe, Dolly Parton, and Porter Wagoner. In a tribute to her idol Connie Smith, “I’ve Got My Baby On My Mind,” Robins sneaked in Smith’s trademark hiccup.

The CD came full circle with a bonus track featuring the man who originally ignited Robins’ love for bluegrass – her 82 year-old father -- and the man who fanned the flame forty years later – bluegrass great Butch Robins.

Robins managed to assemble a team for 40 YEARS LATE to produce a sound described as “both impeccable and ingenious” -   legendary musicians included Butch Robins on banjo; Michael Cleveland, International Bluegrass Music Association’s nine-time Fiddle Performer of the Year; Jeff Guernsey, former fiddle player for Vince Gill, on guitar; and Lynn Manzenberger, formerly with The Wildwood Valley Boys, on bass.

Not only did Butch offer to play banjo on the album, he gave his blessing to her using the title of this debut project.

Tour Dates: Bands In Town - Kim Robins

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