Robin James Tolleson

Robin graduated from Hendersonville High School in 1974. His mother graduated from HHS in the late 1930s and his sister, Susan Tolleson, graduated in 1979. His children Millie and James graduated in 2004 and 2009.

Robin attended Appalachian State University in political science and San Francisco State University to study journalism.

Accomplishments included:

  • Forty years of work as a prolific music journalist, producing thousands of articles for local, national, and international publications

  • National and International Publications include - Down Beat (well-known jazz magazine out of Chicago, his writing for Down Beat include two years of covering the Brazilian Free Jazz Festival in Sao Paolo), Billboard, San Francisco Chronicle, Modern Drummer, Bass Player, MIXI (a music industry magazine), Guitar Player, Drums and Drumming, Musician’s Industry, BAM! (Bay Area Music), Wind Player, and Strings

  • Local Publications include - Hendersonville Times News (he had a music column for a year), The Lightning, Bold Life, and Mountain Express

More well-known musicians he interviewed were Carlos Santana, Whitney Houston, Eric “Boots” Greene (drummer for Beyonce), Anderson Paak, Ian Anderson (of Jethro Tull), Ginger Baker (drummer for Cream), guitarist George Benson, Questlove, sax player Michael Brecker, Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, blues guitarist Robert Cray, Shelia and Pete Excovedo, members of Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones, drummer Max Roach, Herbie Hancock (jazz pianist and electronic pioneer), saxophonist David Sanborn.

He is quoted and his writings are referenced numerous times for Wikipedia articles about such musical greats as Phil Collins, Guns ‘N Roses, Yes, Nina Simone, Foreigner, David Grisman, and others.

Several years ago, Robin created a new media, he named Spinterview, in which he combined snippets from his trove of audio interviews together with examples from the artist’s music. He presented this in educational settings and at a website, Sprintview.media, this is still being curated by his son, James Tolleson.

Other Accomplishments:

  • Musician

  • Drummer

  • Percussionist

  • Producer of several CDs with groups

  • DJ

  • Director of Hendersonville Community Music Center (2017-2019)

Taken from his Facebook Page June 2019:

“This hurst…Robin Tolleson was one of the most dedicated, passionate, and professional individuals I’ve ever known. I’m still astounded by what he did with the HCMC-how much he built it up, the connections he made, and the impact he had on the Boys and Girls Club and elementary schools across the area. Above everything else, Robin was so kind and soulful. He’ll be deeply missed by friends, colleagues, and students alike.”

-written by Andy Jurik, Doctorate in Music from the University of South Carolina, teacher at the Boys and Girls school with the Hendersonville Music Center, current professor in music at UNC-Asheville and Western Carolina University.

Gary Rivers

Gary Rivers attended HHS from 1971-1975. Some of his many accomplishments include:

  • 11 Conference Championships

  • 3 Sport Letterman HHS track, basketball, football (1970-1971)

  • 3 Sport High School Letterman baseball, basketball, & football (1975)

  • 1990 NC State Champion (baseball)

  • 2 Basketball State Championships

  • 15 Straight NCHSAA State Playoff Appearances

  • 5 time NCBA District 8 Coach of the Year

  • 3rd Round Selection by Cincinnati Reds (1979)

  • President of Homeowners Association

  • Carolina Theater Cup Winner (1975)

  • WHKP Best Offensive Back (1974)

  • 1974 HHS Leading Hitter & Most Valuable Baseball Player

  • 1975 Jim Pardue Ivy Division Champion

  • 1975 HHS President of Fellowship of Christian Athletes

  • Member of Spanish Club, Key Club, & National Honor Society

  • Featured on 8th Annual Edition of Who’s Who American High School Students (1973-1974)

After graduating from HHS, Mr. Rivers received a BS in Education from the University of Tennessee where he was the first African American baseball signee of the college. He then went on to earn a Masters in Counseling from Western Carolina University.

Please note his Professional Background and Civic Activities below:

Professional Background:

  • Hendersonville High School Baseball Coach/PE Instructor

  • Berkeley Institute Basketball Coach/PE Instructor

  • Blue Ridge Community College Head of Minority Student Services (was a Counselor & Athletic Director)

  • Author of two books: Wisdom of the Ages, Pitching Made Perfect

  • Small Business Owner (The Rinsz)

  • Baseball Pitcher Perfect Patent (Pending)

Civic Activities:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast (BRCC)

  • Church of Christ (Canned Food Drives)

  • Boys and Girls Club (Mentor Program)

  • Palmetto Bible Camp

  • High School Male Mentor

  • Hendersonville Church of Christ Church Leader

  • New Black Leadership Council

Gary Mitchell Rivers has a special talent for guiding people in education, sports, and as a teacher of the Word. He is a true educator who has helped to change the lives of those whom he meets. He fought to reduce Hendersonville’s school drop-out rate, educate youth about diversity and black history, and motivate many to be the best they could be as a person and citizen. Born in Hendersonville, North Carolina on December 1, 1956 to Clinton and Ruby Rivers, he attended Ninth Avenue School for 1st Grade and was among the first wave of black students to integrate Bruce Drysdale School.

Rivers began his 1984-1999 career at Hendersonville Junior High School, teaching physical education for one year followed by health education for the remaining years. Gary was dedicated to helping students be successful in school in whatever way he could. Along with his mother Ruby Rivers, a Title 1 reading teacher and teacher’s assistant, they were instrumental in administering two programs that helped educate and keep at risk students in school.

Byrd, superintendent of Hendersonville City Schools from 1984-1993 said about them, “They were leaders in implementing two intertwined programs called Youth Academic Enhancement (YAE) Program (which utilized tutoring to assist students with homework) and Project EDGE (a program funded and sponsored by General Electric).”

Rivers had a passion for coaching and used sports to impact the lives of his students. Rivers was Head Coach for the JV basketball and varsity baseball teams and an assistant coach in football and varsity basketball.

He left the Henderson County school system in 1999 to move to Bermuda, where he continued to teach and coach for several years. He then returned to Hendersonville to serve as Director of Minority Services while simultaneously earning his Master’s degree in counseling from Western Carolina University. He later served as a career counselor at Blue Ridge Community College under Frank Byrd. Rivers can be remembered hosting the annual Martin Luther King Breakfast events yearly, raising money for minority scholarships given by the college, and hosting “Tea with G” to foster unity and encourage minority students on campus. He returned to Hendersonville High School on several occasions to address the student body at move-up assemblies, give Blue Ridge Community College scholarships, and discuss the importance of diversity during Black History Month.