Sylvia Robinson
Born 1935 · Age 90
American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and label executive; co-founder/CEO of Sugar Hill Records; produced landmark hip-hop singles including "Rapper's Delight" and "The Message" and dubbed the "Mother of Hip Hop."
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Life & Career Timeline
Born Sylvia Vanterpool in Harlem, NYC
Born Sylvia Vanterpool (also spelled Vanderpool/Vanterpool) in Manhattan, New York to Herbert and Ida Vanterpool.
Left Washington Irving High School
Dropped out of Washington Irving High School at about age 14 to pursue performing; began performing blues with Hot Lips Page soon after.
Began recording as 'Little Sylvia' for Columbia Records
Started recording professionally under the billing 'Little Sylvia' for Columbia in 1950, beginning her recording career.
Debut single and advertising as Little Sylvia
Advertisement and release activity for Little Sylvia's early singles (e.g., 'Little Boy'); documented advertisement dated Sept 8, 1951.
Teamed with guitarist Mickey Baker
Began musical partnership with Kentucky guitarist Mickey Baker; he taught her guitar and they began recording together as a duo.
Recorded 'Love Is Strange' with Mickey & Sylvia
Mickey & Sylvia recorded 'Love Is Strange' (written by Bo Diddley and Jody Williams); recorded in 1956 and set up the duo's major breakthrough.
'Love Is Strange' hits #1 R&B and #11 pop
'Love Is Strange' topped the R&B chart and reached #11 on the Billboard pop chart in early 1957, bringing national prominence.
Mickey & Sylvia initially split up
After several further releases, Mickey & Sylvia split (sources cite 1958–1959); Sylvia later restarted a solo career.
Married Joseph Robinson Sr.
Married businessman Joseph Robinson Sr.; later the couple co-founded record labels and had three sons.
Produced 'You Talk Too Much' (uncredited)
Produced the Joe Jones record 'You Talk Too Much' in 1960 but did not receive production credit.
Owned Joey's Place bar in Harlem
Owned a Harlem bar called 'Joey's Place' (named after her husband) in the 1960s, an entrepreneurial activity outside record business.
Mickey & Sylvia reunite; Willow Records distribution
Mickey & Sylvia recorded together again for various labels including their own Willow Records, distributed by King Records (Cincinnati).
Played guitar on Ike & Tina Turner's 'It's Gonna Work Out Fine'
Baker provided vocals and Sylvia played guitar on Ike & Tina Turner's hit 'It's Gonna Work Out Fine', which earned the duo their first Grammy nomination.
Ike & Tina Turner receive first Grammy nomination (session involvement)
The session Sylvia played guitar on ('It's Gonna Work Out Fine') earned Ike & Tina Turner a Grammy nomination in 1962; Sylvia asserted she paid for the session and taught Tina the song.
Mickey Baker moved to Paris
Mickey Baker left the U.S. for Paris in frustration with the music business, effectively ending the long-term Mickey & Sylvia collaboration.
Owned nightclub Blue Morocco in New York
Owned the Blue Morocco, a New York bar and nightclub during the mid-1960s, an additional entrepreneurial venture.
Moved to New Jersey
Sylvia and Joseph Robinson relocated to New Jersey, a move that preceded their entry into label ownership and production.
Co-founded All Platinum Records
With husband Joe Robinson, Sylvia co-founded All Platinum Records (and related imprints Stang, Vibration) to release soul/R&B music.
Lezli Valentine brings All Platinum first hit
Lezli Valentine (former Jaynetts) brought All Platinum an early hit with the single 'I Won't Do Anything' for the label.
Signed The Moments to All Platinum
The Robinsons signed The Moments (a Washington, D.C. act) to All Platinum; the act soon achieved commercial success on the label.
Co-writing and production credits accumulate
By 1970s Sylvia had accumulated extensive songwriting/production credits across All Platinum/Stang/Vibration catalogues, cementing her role as label creative director.
Co-wrote/produced 'Love on a Two-Way Street' (The Moments)
Sylvia co-wrote and produced 'Love on a Two-Way Street' (1970), a major hit for The Moments (co-produced with Bert Keyes; Lezli Valentine uncredited on lyrics).
Wrote 'Pillow Talk' and pitched to Al Green
Sent a demo of 'Pillow Talk' to Al Green, who declined due to religious beliefs; Sylvia decided to record it herself.
Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
'Pillow Talk' earned Sylvia a nomination at the 1974 Grammy Awards (for work released in 1973).
Released Pillow Talk (debut solo LP)
Her debut solo LP 'Pillow Talk' was released (May 1973), later peaking at US #70 and US R&B #16 (Billboard listings).
Released 'Pillow Talk' as Sylvia (single)
'Pillow Talk' became a major hit in summer 1973: #1 R&B, #3 US Billboard Hot 100, #14 UK. RIAA gold disc awarded May 1973. BlackPast reports sales of ~2,000,000 copies.
Single 'Didn't I' charts (R&B)
Follow-up singles from the Pillow Talk era (e.g., 'Didn't I') charted modestly; she continued releasing music on her Vibration imprint.
Released Sweet Stuff (LP) & produced hits on All Platinum
Released the album 'Sweet Stuff' (1975). Around this time All Platinum released hits including Shirley & Company's 'Shame, Shame, Shame' (1975).
Shirley & Company's 'Shame, Shame, Shame' on All Platinum (hit)
All Platinum (and its subsidiaries) had a major disco/soul hit with Shirley & Company's 'Shame, Shame, Shame' (1975), produced/supported by Sylvia's label operations.
Released Sylvia (LP)
Released the studio album 'Sylvia' on her Vibration label in 1976.
Released Lay It On Me (LP)
Released the studio album 'Lay It On Me' in 1977 on Vibration.
Co-founded Sugar Hill Records (late 1970s)
The Robinsons founded Sugar Hill Records, named after Harlem's Sugar Hill neighborhood, launching a dedicated hip-hop imprint; sources cite late 1970s (1978/1979).
All Platinum/label financial troubles / decline
By the late 1970s All Platinum encountered financial/legal problems (reported bankruptcy/financial strain), which preceded activity launching Sugar Hill.
Reported sales for 'Rapper's Delight' (multiple sources)
Sales figures for 'Rapper's Delight' vary in sources: ColoradoSound reports ~2,000,000 copies, BlackPast reports >8,000,000 copies, RecordingArts cites ~14,000,000 copies. Figures reported in press.
Introduced rap to mainstream via Sugar Hill innovations
Through Sugar Hill releases (notably 'Rapper's Delight'), Sylvia introduced rap, scratching and breakbeat culture to mainstream commercial music markets.
Conceived and produced 'Rapper's Delight' (Sugarhill Gang)
Produced 'Rapper's Delight' (Sugarhill Gang). The song (recorded 1979) became one of the first commercially successful hip-hop singles and brought rap to a national audience.
All Platinum-related hits continue through 1970s
During the 1970s All Platinum and its imprints released multiple hits (e.g., Moments 'Sexy Mama', 'Look at Me (I'm in Love)', Whatnauts/Moments 'Girls'). Sylvia co-wrote/produced many tracks.
The Sequence 'Funk U Up' million-selling hit (Sugar Hill act)
Sugar Hill signed The Sequence (including Angie Stone as 'Angie B'); 'Funk U Up' was a million-selling early-1980 hit for the group.
Produced and released 'The Message' (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five)
Sylvia co-produced 'The Message' with Grandmaster Melle Mel, released on Sugar Hill. The record provided a socially conscious shift in hip-hop subject matter and became highly influential.
Signed Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (Sugar Hill)
Sylvia signed Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five to Sugar Hill and produced their notable socially conscious single 'The Message'.
Shift in hip-hop sound; new competitors emerge
1983 saw a change in rap style (Run-DMC's 'Sucker MCs' era) and changing market tastes, challenging Sugar Hill's commercial position.
Sugar Hill Records folds
Sugar Hill Records closed in 1985 due to industry changes, competition (Profile, Def Jam), legal and financial pressures.
Founded Bon Ami Records
After the collapse of Sugar Hill and divorcing Joe Robinson, Sylvia formed Bon Ami Records (1987), later associated with Diamond Head Records rebranding (1994).
Signed The New Style (later Naughty by Nature)
Bon Ami Records (or subsequent label activity) signed The New Style, who later left and found success as Naughty by Nature.
Received Pioneer Award at Rhythm and Blues Awards Gala
At the 11th Annual Rhythm and Blues Awards Gala (2000) Sylvia received a Pioneer Award for her career in singing and for founding Sugar Hill Records.
Joseph Robinson Sr. (former husband) dies
Joseph Robinson Sr., Sylvia's ex-husband and co-founder of All Platinum/Sugar Hill, died in 2000 (some sources indicate the couple had divorced prior to his death).
Studio fire destroyed many Sugar Hill masters
Her studio reportedly caught fire in 2002, destroying many of the original Sugar Hill masters, impacting legacy catalog preservation.
Moby samples Sylvia's song 'Sunday'
Electronic musician Moby sampled Sylvia's song 'Sunday' for his track 'Sunday (The Day Before My Birthday)' (2003), showing continued influence of her recordings.
Died of congestive heart failure
Sylvia Robinson died on the morning of September 29, 2011, at Meadowlands Hospital, Secaucus, New Jersey; cause: congestive heart failure.
Rolling Stone ranks 'The Message' on 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs list
On Dec 5, 2012, Rolling Stone selected 'The Message' as one of the '50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time' (voted #1 by the consulted panel), underscoring Sylvia's production legacy (posthumous recognition).
Son Rhondo 'Scutchie' Robinson dies
Rhondo 'Scutchie' Robinson (youngest son) died in February 2014 (reported age ~43); included in family timeline though after Sylvia's death.
Portrayal and cultural references (posthumous)
Sylvia was portrayed by Retta on Drunk History (2014); cited as an inspiration for TV character Cookie Lyon on Empire; featured in documentary Profiles of African-American Success.
Paula Wagner acquired Sylvia Robinson's film rights
Producer Paula Wagner acquired the life-rights to Sylvia's story from her son Joey Robinson for a planned biopic (posthumous development).
Son Joseph 'Joey' Robinson Jr. dies
Joey Robinson Jr., son and former Sugar Hill Records executive, died in July 2015; he had been slated to executive-produce the Sylvia biopic.
Warner Bros picks up Sylvia Robinson biopic project
Warner Bros announced it would produce a Sylvia Robinson biopic; writers Malcolm Spellman and Carlito Rodriguez attached (Oct 2015).
Justin Simien attached to direct Sylvia biopic; script additions
In Oct 2018, Justin Simien was reported attached as director and Tracy Oliver joined Malcolm Spellman & Carlito Rodriguez on the script; Leland Robinson (son) as executive producer.
Nickname 'Mother of Hip Hop' widely used in publications
Numerous publications have dubbed her the 'Mother of Hip Hop' for her early role in producing and commercializing hip-hop records (recognition consolidated over decades).
Posthumous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction (Ahmet Ertegun Award)
In 2022 Sylvia Robinson was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the Ahmet Ertegun Award category; first woman to receive the award unaccompanied.
Key Achievement Ages
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