Sylvia Robinson (born Sylvia Vanderpool, March 6, 1936, New York) is a singer, musician, music producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the seminal Hip Hop label Sugar Hill Records. She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre; "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, and "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang, the latter being the world's first rap re...
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Sylvia Robinson (born Sylvia Vanderpool, March 6, 1936, New York) is a singer, musician, music producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the seminal Hip Hop label Sugar Hill Records. She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre; "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, and "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang, the latter being the world's first rap record to be released by a Hip Hop act.
Her first successful record was the 1957 hit, "Love Is Strange", written by Bo Diddley, (but credited to his then wife, Ethel Smith), and guitarist Jody Williams, who had developed the distinctive lead guitar riff, and released as part of the duo, Mickey & Sylvia with guitar player Mickey Baker.
She married Joe Robinson in 1964 and continued working in the music industry, being involved with several more successful releases forming the successful All Platinum Records label in 1968.
As a solo performer and...
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