It’s time
to pay the Rent

By Rita Charleston
For the Times

On the small screen, audiences might recognize Anwar Robinson as the music teacher who rocketed to television stardom on season four of the pop-culture phenomenon American Idol.
In fact, his vocal range landed him a spot on Idol’s Top 10, where judge Paula Abdul touted him as "technically the best singer of the competition."
And although he didn’t win, he did go on to tour the country as part of the Idols Live show, singing for over 500,000 people in more than 40 cities in the United States and Canada. He even began work on his solo album, The Truth About Love.
Today, the New Jersey native is making his stage debut in Rent, the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical coming to the Academy of Music Jan. 4-6. Rent is the theatrical experience that transformed how a generation feels about musicals, changed Broadway forever, and inspired a major motion picture.
Premiering in 1996 and set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about being young and learning to survive, falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Rent has made a lasting mark on Broadway with songs that rock and a story that really resonates.
Born in 1979, Robinson started to sing when he was just 8 years old and was accepted to the Newark Boys Choir School.
"Originally I wanted to be a teacher," he recalled. "In fact, I didn’t realize that I wanted to teach music until my senior year of high school. But my teachers, especially my music teachers, inspired me to strive toward doing what they did for me, which was to foster the development of my talent."
And that’s exactly what Robinson began to do. After graduating from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, Robinson, who also is an accomplished pianist, went on to become a junior high school music teacher. And by the time he auditioned for Idol, he was doing quite a few other things as well.
"I spent two years in an R&B group called A.R.T. of SOUL. I made an appearance on Food Network’s Emeril Live for a Christmas special in 2003," he said. "I played piano and sang in churches, was in a band called Perfect Combination, and taught music full time before the summer of 2004, when I auditioned for Idol."
The audition came after a friend dared him to do it.
"The process was not bad," he recalled. "I slept the whole time that we were in line, like two days. Then we went through a series of auditions for producers and the judges. In fact, looking back, I would say the whole experience was a crash course in music-industry practices and the world of television production."
For several weeks, his voice helped him move through the semifinals and the finals, until he eventually was sent home. But he’s certainly not angry.
"It’s certainly easier now to be considered for opportunities because of the notoriety that Idol gives any artist," he said.
Among the challenges that now face Robinson in touring with Rent is sort of forgetting about Idol. "For me, the biggest problem is retaining the integrity of the show, which can become difficult when you’re always having to deal with being thought of as an ‘Idol’ in Rent. Rent is an ensemble piece, and should be thought of as such. I’m just one of the ensemble," he explained.
Now working on his second album, The Truth II, and having appeared with such music icons as Patti Labelle, Kelly Price, Clive Davis and others, Robinson has enjoyed every facet of performing to come his way.
"Connecting with the human spirit and sharing the same love for mankind is a moment of heaven on Earth," he said. "Show business is show business. I believe that you must have a plan and a deeply rooted spiritual connection and you will go far." ••
For times and ticket information, call 215-731-3333.