Larry Robbins, proprietor of food manufacturer Sweet Nut Tree, Toledo, Ohio, has just released a music video featuring his alter ego, the Singing Nut Man. The video, titled “Mixed Nuts,” is the second in what is now a Singing Nut Man series. Robbins wrote and performed the musical score for the video, and he portrays the film’s starring character.
“Mixed Nuts” is the fictional story of two lovesick fellows struggling to choose between multiple love interests. As the tongue-in-cheek storyline unfolds, it’s increasingly unclear whether each man’s affections are directed toward the various women in his life, or toward a wide variety of edible nuts. As one of the love-torn characters, the Singing Nut Man narrates the ironic story through song.
The video is available on YouTube as well as on the Sweet Nut Tree website.
Robbins developed the Singing Nut Man persona as a way to promote Sweet Nut Tree, a leading food gift supplier that sells exclusively to the promotional products industry. He wrote his first song, “Sweet Nut Tree Blues,” a few years ago, and he began performing the number at trade shows to attract traffic to the company’s booth. He later recorded that song and filmed a video to broaden its reach.
“The primary purpose of both songs and videos is to market Sweet Nut Tree,” Robbins said. “However, a personal underlying purpose is to tap my inner musician.”
A former professional musician, Robbins worked his way through college as a singer. He appeared in bars and nightclubs throughout Ohio, performing cover songs at night and on weekends. In those days, he sang vocals and played guitar, and his only accompaniment was a portable drum machine.
“That’s a really tough way to make a living,” Robbins recalls about performing on the road. “There’s nothing more depressing than singing to a room full of lonely business people in a hotel bar on a Thursday night. It’s not what I’d call a lively or engaged audience.”
Robbins’ own love interest set him on an indirect path to the promotional products field. After accompanying him on some of his road performances, Robbins’ then girlfriend Terry told him that a serious relationship with her would require his getting a “real job.” So he abandoned his music ambitions to focus on finishing college and landing a business career. Today, he is vice president/general manager of Sweet Nut Tree, and he and Terry have been married for 38 years.
A few decades removed from doing his act, Robbins’ love of music inspired him to seek a way to blend performing with his day job. That’s when he conceived the Singing Nut Man idea. Robbins wrote the song, “Mixed Nuts,” in early 2013 after customers began asking about a followup to “Sweet Nut Tree Blues.” He describes the song as jazzy with a rock and roll flair. Robbins then had the track recorded and mixed in a professional sound studio. A local videographer filmed and edited the music video, which features many of Robbins’ friends and coworkers as supporting characters.
For more information, visit www.sweetnuttree.com.
