Stanford Robinson was born in Leeds in 1904 and died at Brighton in 1984. After studying at the Royal College of Music with Adrian Boult, he joined the BBC in 1924 where he remained as a staff conductor until 1966. From 1936 he was responsible for studio opera and made many distinguished radio and TV broadcasts and recordings. He organised the BBC Wireless Chorus, which evolved into the Radio Chorus and today's BBC Singers; he conducted the BBC Theatre Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and BBC Opera Orchestra. He made his Covent Garden début in 1937 and appeared in several other venues at home and abroad. In 1966 he left the BBC after 42 years, to become the chief conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Also a composer of light music, his main claim to fame must be his major contribution to the BBC’s musical reputation.