Sylvia Robinson

For the country singer, see Sylvia (singer).

Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia
Robinson in 1976
Background information
Birth nameSylvia Vanderpool
Also known as
  • Little Sylvia
  • Sylvia
  • Sylvia Robbins
  • Shirley Robbins[1]
  • Mother of Hip Hop[2]
Born(1935-05-29)May 29, 1935[3][4][5]
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
OriginEnglewood, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedSeptember 29, 2011(2011-09-29) (aged 76)[6]
Secaucus, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • synthesizer
Years active1950–2011
Labels
Spouse(s)
Joseph Robinson Sr.
​
​
(m. 1959, divorced)​

Sylvia Robinson (née Vanderpool; May 29, 1935[3][4][5][7] – September 29, 2011), known mononymously as Sylvia, was an American singer and record producer. Robinson achieved success as a performer on two R&B chart toppers: as half of Mickey & Sylvia with the 1957 single "Love Is Strange", and her solo record "Pillow Talk" in 1973. She later became known for her work as founder and CEO of the pioneering hip hop label Sugar Hill Records.[8]

Robinson is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the hip hop genre: "Rapper's Delight" (1979) by the Sugarhill Gang,[9] and "The Message" (1982) by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, both of which she produced. At the 11th Annual Rhythm and Blues Awards Gala in 2000, she received a Pioneer Award for her career in singing and for founding Sugarhill Records.[10] Several publications have dubbed her the "Mother of Hip Hop". In 2022, she was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Ahmet Ertegun Award category for being a major influence on the creative development of hip-hop's early successes,[11] and is the first woman to receive the award unaccompanied by another person.

  1. ^ "Broke Up $3,500 Song To Start Anew". Google Books. JET Magazine/Johnson Publishing Company. October 8, 1959. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  2. ^ "Sylvia Robinson – 'Mother of Hip-Hop' Dead at 75". Tmz.com. September 29, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Book was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b "Leland Robinson Sr". Instagram. May 29, 2017. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Leland Robinson Sr. (@ lelandrobinson.nj)". Instagram. May 29, 2017. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  6. ^ "Instagram post by Leland Robinson • Dec 26, 2016 at 12:02am UTC". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  7. ^ "Darnell Robinson (@thedarnellroy)". Instagram. May 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  8. ^ III, Harris M. Lentz (May 3, 2012). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2011. McFarland. ISBN 9780786469949. Retrieved October 26, 2017 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "'Rapper's Delight'". National Public Radio. December 29, 2000. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  10. ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (October 16, 2000). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved October 26, 2017 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "Artist: Sylvia Robinson:Ahmet Ertegun Award". www.wkyc.com. 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.