Sylvia Robinson was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and music executive who played a foundational role in bringing hip-hop from New York City block parties to the global music industry. Often known as “The Mother of Hip-Hop”, she co-founded Sugar Hill Records and produced some of the genre’s earliest commercial hits. Born Sylvia Vanterpool (aka Vanderpool) on 29 May 1935, in Harlem, New York, she grew up immersed in rhythm and blues. As a teenager in the early 1950s, she recorded as Little Sylvia. In the mid 1950s she found success performing alongside guitarist Mickey Baker as the duo Mickey & Sylvia. Their 1956 song “Love Is Strange” became a major R&B and pop crossover success, later gaining renewed fame when featured in the films “Dirty Dancing” and “Casino”, and in season two of the HBO TV series “The Sopranos”. By the 1960s, Robinson shifted from performing to producing and running record labels with her husband, Joe Robinson. Together they founded All Platinum Record Company in the late 1960s, which scored hits in soul and R&B. She did not give up performing - in 1973 she released the influential single “Pillow Talk” as Sylvia. In 1979, recognizing the cultural power of the emerging hip-hop movement in the Bronx, New York City, the Robinson’s co-founded Sugar Hill Records in Englewood, New Jersey. At a time when many music executives dismissed rap as a fad, she believed it could succeed commercially. Robinson produced “Rapper's Delight” by Sugarhill Gang, widely regarded as the first hip-hop single to achieve mainstream chart success. Released in 1979, the song introduced rap music to international audiences and proved that hip-hop could be commercially viable. She continued producing influential tracks, including “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five Featuring Melle Mel & Duke Bootee, a socially conscious anthem that shifted rap’s focus toward urban realities and political commentary. Sylvia Robinson’s business acumen and creative vision were crucial in transforming hip-hop from a local cultural expression into a global industry. Though her career was not without controversy - particularly regarding artist contracts and songwriting credits - her influence remains undeniable. In 2011, Robinson passed away at age 76. In recognition of her groundbreaking contributions, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 as an Ahmet Ertegun Award recipient. Today, Sylvia Robinson is remembered as a trailblazer who helped launch one of the most influential musical genres in modern history, ensuring that hip-hop would move from neighborhood parties to worldwide prominence.

1935 May 29 USA - 2011 September 29 USA (76)