One of the most popular radio personalities to ever be on radio in Tampa passed away from a heart attack Saturday evening.
“Smiling” Tom Robinson was a favorite of everyone who listened to WTMP 1150AM radio, and loved everywhere he went. He was 58.
Lonnie Robinson, one of his 6 siblings, said Tom was the only child born in Georgia.
“He graduated from Miami Northwestern High School, then went on to attend Bethune Cookman University. He was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
“After leaving college, Tom went to work at NASA, and from there, he came to Tampa and straight to WTMP, where his legend was made.”
Lonnie said his brother always loved music, and after leaving the radio station, became a regular at the Cotton Club, and was a favorite at weddings and other events.
“Smiling” Robinson was the father of three children, and Lonnie said his love of music started with him playing at house parties when he was a teenager.
“He got his radio name from his classmates at Bethune Cookman. They said he always smiled, so he decided to keep the nickname and use it as his radio personality.”
Lonnie said “Smiling” Tom had been on dialysis for 2-1/2 years, and was diagnosed with a heart condition as far back as 2000.
“He kept his health problems to himself, and was far as the family knew, his health problems weren’t that serious. We only recently found out he was undergoing dialysis.
“He had been in the hospital for two weeks, and told us he was just battling the flu. But, after he passed, we found out just how serious his health problems had been. He was a stubborn man, and the doctors wanted to perform surgery on him but he refused.”
Lonnie said his brother always did whatever he could for everyone, and met a lot of great people throughout his life.
Services for “Smiling” Tom Robinson will be held Saturday, January 26th, with the time to be announced at a later date. The viewing will be Friday from 5 p. m. until 8 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 North Howard Avenue.
