Vicki Sue Robinson - Career Resurgence

Career Resurgence

Robinson regained some publicity from Gloria Estefan's 1994 version of "Turn the Beat Around." The success of the Estefan single inspired Robinson to re-record the song for the B-side of her 1995 single, "For Real." This led to TV appearances on a number of talk shows as well as some recording, film, and stage projects. Firstly, she provided backing vocals on RuPaul's 1996 album Foxy Lady, where the two of them also recorded a duet. Then, in 1997, she recorded the song "House of Joy" for DJ/producer Junior Vasquez, which became Robinson's first and only hit single in the United Kingdom. She then recorded the song "My Stomp, My Beat" for the film Chasing Amy. In October of that same year Robinson played herself on Comedy Central's mock TV documentary Unauthorized Biography: Milo, Death of a Supermodel. A resurgence of interest in disco music by the mid 1990s led Robinson, along with fellow disco veterans K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Thelma Houston, Gloria Gaynor and The Village People to embark on a well-received world tour.

Upon returning to the U.S. in 1999, Robinson went back to her roots in theatre by performing in an Off Broadway musical titled Vicki: Behind The Beat, which was semi-autobiographical in nature and featured her hit songs, along with her best-known jingles. The play was a continuation of her popular cabaret show. In June of that year she provided the track "Pokémon (Dance Mix)" from the "2.B.A. Master" soundtrack for the English dub of the Pokémon anime. Three months later, in September, Robinson released her final single, "Move On," which reached #18 on Billboard's Dance Chart. During that same month, she was forced to withdraw from her Off Broadway show owing to ill health. However, before her state became terminal, Robinson undertook the role of a fairy godmother in the independent film Red Lipstick, which was released on April 16, 2000. New York based, DJ Danny Echi was her personal assistant for a solid twenty years.