One of the Island's greatest jazz musicians acclaimed as the "father of every musician here" has died at the age of 77.

Milton Robinson, most well known for playing at the Gazebo Lounge at the Hamilton Princess, died on Wednesday after collapsing at the Bermuda School of Music.

He was trained in classical guitar and up to his last days was still improving his skills in cello and composing new songs.

He leaves behind a wife of 52 years Renee, and three children Dawn, 50, Michelle, 48, and Dean, 42; as well as grandchildren Bradley Mitchell, Joshua Wood and Isaiah Sousa.

Mrs Robinson, said: "After 52 years of marriage we thought he would be around for a long time but his death was very sudden. It's good though he didn't suffer any pain and died doing what he loved."

Mrs. Robinson said she would most miss the sound of her husband's music roaming through the house and hailed him as a wonderful man and terrific husband.

Mr. Robinson, 77, was the only child of Bermudian Fred (String) Robinson and Canadian Eileen Gibson. He was brought up around music and taught himself to play guitar while in high school in Montreal.

He never put the guitar down and after studying for some time in Canada, returned to the Island to perform with the Lance Hayward quartet, performing at hotels around Bermuda and Jamaica.

Mr. Robinson was considered a perfectionist by lifelong friend Stan Gilbert, 62, who said: "He was a musician's musician. He played the flute, the steel pans, the trombone, electric base, the classical guitar and more.

"As a matter of fact when he had just finished a cello lesson when he died."

"He was like a mentor to me in terms of his practicing taught me everything I know. From the beginning he was the one that really got me on the road to becoming a professional musician."

In addition to giving Mr. Gilbert his first job at Hamilton Princess playing the bass, Mr. Robinson was a kind and stylish man to many others in the local music scene.

Drummer Howard Rego said: "Milton was a gentleman of the highest order. I can go on for quite a while on how great Milt was in every aspect. Musically speaking Milt was the father of every musician here. He was a senior member of the music industry, a constant professional and did it all in style."

"I don't think there was a musician in Bermuda who did not learn something about their craft either musically or just how to handle themselves in a more professional way, from Milton."

Mr. Rego knew the jazz musician for 30 odd years and worked with him hundreds of times. In fact he was looking forward to performing with him again at an upcoming gig and said it was always a 'stimulating experience'.

Playing with Mr. Robinson forced him to dig deep within himself and made him work even harder to reach the high standard set, Mr. Rego said.

Close friend Steve Crawford also spoke highly of the musician, who was able to travel around the world throughout his music career and touch countless numbers of people.

"He was a special musician and also a fine composer who in recent months had travelled to N.Y, where some of his compositions were recorded by a professional Jazz big band," said Mr. Crawford, a guitar teacher at the Bermuda School of Music. "I'd take great pleasure listening to his many stories of travels to Brazil and just recently (Barcelona) Spain.

"Milt was a real inspiration to me and he will be deeply missed by many people at home here in Bermuda and around the world."