Robert Robinson/ Star Tribune photo by Tom Wallace

Like many other local artists, gospel/pop star Robert Robinson has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help cover the costs of his new recording project "Lullabies from the Heart with Robert Robinson," due Oct. 8. But he needed a kickstart from his therapist to get this project off the ground because Robinson suffered a "slight stroke" in November.

He was performing at the Fargodome in Fargo, heading back to the stage for the encore. "I lost feeling in the left side of my body. And I fell," he recalled of the event at a conference for doctors and nurses. "I didn't pay much attention to it; I thought I was tired."

But after several subsequent falls at home and four consecutive days of calling 911, Robinson went to ER and was diagnosed with a slight stroke. "I need to focus on my body, on working on weight loss – that's not a secret," he said. "I felt everything else was a priority. I've had to make my health a priority." He's been working with a physical therapist, who has counseled him on diet and exercise. Robinson has dropped 48 pounds, with more to go. He's having trouble walking so he uses a walker or a wheelchair. But he's still performing and promises to be at the Dakota Jazz Club on Oct. 11 for his CD release party. "I've got to find some uptempo songs," he said. "I don't' want to lullaby everybody to sleep."