Anwar Robinson
Bo-Ty Productions

Pop | R&B | Neo Soul

Anwar Robinson is most recognized as one of the top finalists in television's American Idol 2005 competition. Anwar grew up in Newark, New Jersey and started his singing training at age eight with his acceptance to the Newark Boys' Chorus School. He continued his training throughout his youth and also into college at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton; where as a tenor, Anwar was under the tutelage of the esteemed Dr. Scott J. McCoy. Upon college graduation, he landed a gig as Musical Director for Patti's Kitchen, a pilot for Patti LaBelle's cooking show with the Food Network.

Not to rest on his prior accomplishments, Anwar decided to join the R&B group called the A.R.T. of SOUL, which was under the direction of noted songwriter/producer Joshua Thompson. The group signed a production deal with Thompson, who later took the group to sing live for the legendary Clive Davis, Founder of J. Records. Davis signed the group on the spot! The group members, who creatively were so different, decided to separate and were let out of their contract. Until another major musical opportunity would happen, Anwar decided to share his love of music with children and became a music teacher in the New Jersey public school system.

Anwar, who always had a spiritual nature and strong faith, decided to return to his roots rendering music in local churches as a musician/singer/songwriter to uplift the congregations. One of these churches was Zoe Ministries, where Bishop E. Bernard Jordan is the Chief Prelate. Due to his singing at Zoe Ministries church, Anwar Robinson was asked to contribute several vocals to the album Resurrection such as the soloist for Reverend Run’s (MTV’s Run’s House) song “His Love Will Never Die” as well as the vocals with Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony on the same track. Several years later, the gospel world was buzzing about Anwar's inspirational singing and he was asked by The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin to be a guest performer when she taped a birthday television episode of Emeril Live.

In August 2004, Anwar successfully auditioned for season four of American Idol in Washington, DC. He proceeded to the Top 10 and was selected 7th overall in the reality TV competition. Anwar would later go on tour with only the Top 10 contestants from American Idol and perform for over 500,000 people in over 40 cities in North America and Canada.

From doing the American Idol tour, Anwar's fans requested more music from him. Therefore, he released an album of cover songs entitled The Truth (About Love), which was available on his fan site. The album did temporarily slow down his fans’ demands for more music by Anwar. In order to stay above his fans’ needs for his music, Anwar began to work on an album The Truth II, which is original music. Also, he has lent his voice to Inspiration, a collection of inspirational songs composed by Reverend Nolan Williams, Jr. that was released in 2006.

Even with national spotlight on his music career, Anwar felt he should continue to mentor the minds of youth by serving as Vice-Chairperson of New Jersey’s United Way's "Celebrity Read Program". When he accepted role of Collins in national and international tour of Jonathan Larson's iconic rock opera RENT in 2007-2008, Anwar would not be able to continue with his New Jersey volunteer activities, except for an one night civic fundraising performance with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra to debut at The Prudential Hall of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on June 25, 2008. However, happily for his music fans in other cities, they had a chance to see Anwar in person. The tour made stops in over 40 cities in the United States, Canada, England and Japan.

With RENT tour continuing, Anwar was revealed also as a theatrical actor with the film release The Ski Trip 2: Friends and Lovers by trailblazing new director Maurice Jamal. The film debuted on July 13, 2008 at the Fairfax Regency Theatre in Los Angeles, California. With critical acclaim for both his theatre and film work and the completion the RENT tour, Anwar was tapped to originate the lead role of Raymond in the musical play adaptation of E. Lynn Harris' award-winning novel Invisible Life for a 2008 workshop. The composers for the musical were world-renowned songwriters Ashford & Simpson.

Anwar would go on to star as Jesus in the Syracuse Stage Production of Godspell in the Fall/Winter Season of 2008. In 2009, he would resume his work on the album, "Transparency" and the soul-funk laden first single, "Night's Hot" is now available on iTunes, Rhapsody, and Amazon.

America gave Anwar Robinson the title of an Idol. Yet, it is Anwar's talent throughout these short years after the TV competition that keeps him on top of the industry and public demands for great acting and musical singing & songwriting/arranging abilities.