Black HIstory Fact #11: Sylvia Robinson

What's going on, everybody. Welcome to another episode of A day with crime black history fact addition. Of course I am your man, David. Let's jump in. 

Today, we going to talk about the person who was behind. One of the biggest. rap records that was out there. Her name is Sylvia Robinson. 

 She was dubbed the hip hop's first grandmother by billboard. She's a singer and music producer. And she produced the first ever [00:01:00] commercially successful rap record, rapper's delight by the sugar hill gang. And along with her husband, she co owned the first hip hop label. Sugar hill records. Let's talk a little bit more about Sylvia Robinson. 

She was born May 29th, 1935. She was an American singer, record producer and record label executive. She had two R&B chart toppers as half of Mickey and Sylvia with love is strange in 1957. And her solo record pillow talk in 1973. 

She later became known for her work as founder and CEO of the hip hop label, Sugar hill records. Robinson is credit as the driving force behind two landmarks singles in the hip hop genre. Rapper's delight in 1979 by the Sugarhill gang. And the message in 1982 by [00:02:00] Grandmaster flash and the furious five. 

Which caused her to be dubbed the mother of hip hop. 

Sylvia received a pioneer award for her career and singing and being the founder of sugar hill records at the 11th annual rhythm and blues awards gala. In 2000. 

Let's talk a little bit more about her and her early life. 

She was born Sylvia Vanderpool. In Harlem, New York. To Herbert an immigrant from the Virgin islands who worked for general motors. And Ida Vanderpool. She attended Washington Irving high school until she dropped out at the age of 14. And began recording music in 1950 for columbia records under the alias little Sylvia. 

In her early career in 1954, she began teaming up with Kentucky guitarist Mickey Baker, who then taught her how to play guitar. In 1956, the duo now known as Mickey and Sylvia [00:03:00] recorded the Bo Diddley and Jody Williams pinned rock single love is strange. Which top of the R&B charts and reach number 11 on the billboard pop charts in early 1957. 

After several more releases, including the mosdestly successful there oughta be a law. Mickey and Sylvia split up in 1958. And she later married Joseph Robinson. Sylvia restarted her solo career solely after her. And this'll spit from Baker. First under the name, Sylvia Robbins. In 1960 Robinson produced the record you talk too much by Joe Jones. 

But she did not receive credit. 

In 1961. Mickey and Sylvia recorded more songs together for various labels, including their own. Their label was called Willow records and was distributed by king records of Cincinnati. That Year Baker provided vocals and Robinson played guitar on Ike and Tina Turner's hit single. It's gonna to work out fine. 

Which earned Ike and Tina Turner, [00:04:00] their first Grammy award nomination. 

I paid for the session, taught Tina the song that's me playing guitar. Robinson said in a 1981 interview, with black radio exclusive. In 1964, frustrated with the music business. Baker moved to Paris. In 1966. The Robinson's moved to New Jersey, where they formed a soul music label, all platinum records. 

The following year with artists, Lezlie Valentine, formerly of the Jeanette's bringing the label its first hit with I won't do anything. In 1968, the duo sign the Washington DC act named the moment. Who immediately found success with not on the outside. Within a couple of years and with a new line up the group scored their biggest hit, 

with love on a two way street. In 1970 with Sylvia co-wrote and produced with Bert Keyes. And lyrics by Lezlie Valentine.[00:05:00] 

Other hits on the label and its subsidiaries, including staying in vibration included Shirley and companies, shame, shame, shame, and 1975. The moment, sexy mama. And look at me. I'm in love. Rather, Young's sending out an SOS in 1975. And the what nots moments, collaboration, girls. 

Robinson co-wrote and produced many of the tracks. Although later she was supported by two members. Of the moments Al Goodman and Harry Ray. As well as locally based producers, George Kerr and Nate Edmonds. 

In 1972, Sylvia sent a demo of a song she had written called pillow talk to Al green. When green passed on it due to his religious beliefs, Sylvia decided to record it herself returning to her own musical career. Billed simply as Sylvia. The record became a major, hit reaching number one on the R&B chart and crossing over to reach. 

The us billboard [00:06:00] hot 100 number three. While also reaching number 14 on the UK singles chart in the summer of 1973. 

She was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. In may of 1973. And earned a nomination for the Grammy award for best female RMB vocal performance at the 1974 Grammy awards. Pillow talk simply orgasmic gas and moans. Predated. Those are the 1975 Donna summer song. Love to love you, baby. Reviving Robinson's 1973 debut LP. 

Also title, pillow talk. Robert Christgau wrote in Christgau's record guide, rock albums of the seventies. That it is let's get it on with out production values. Call it underdeveloped. If you want, I'll mention that it's unaffected. Including the best peace lyric heard lately entitled. Had any lately. 

Robinson recorded four solo albums on the vibration subsidiary. It had [00:07:00] other R&B hits, including sweet stuff and pussy cat. Pillow talk was a soulful medium dance number. 

Then in 1970s, the Robinson's founded Sugar hill records. The company was named after the culturally rich Sugarhill area of Harlem. In a fluent African-American neighborhood in Manhattan, New York city. Known as a hub for artists and performers in the early and mid 19 hundreds. The song Rapper's delight performed by the Sugarhill gang. Brought rap into the public music arena by attaining one of the first commercially successful hip hop songs. 

And revolutionized the music industry by introducing rap, scratch and break dance. Later acts assigned to Sugarhill records included all female rap funk group. The sequence. Featuring a teenage Andy stone. Recording then as Angie B. Who had a million selling hit in early 1980 with funk you up. [00:08:00] And 1982, Sylvia Robinson with Grandmaster flash and the furious five produced the record. The message. 

Was this performed by grand master flash and the furious five. Although Grandmaster flash and the furious five were important to the success, of this record, it is essential to recognize the contribution that Sylvia Robinson made in producing this historic track. 

The record discussed life in the ghetto and at the toddlers produce became one of the most influential impacting tracks. 

On December 5th, 2012, rolling stone selected The message as one of the 50 greatest hip hop songs of all time. In order for rolling stone to compose this list, the business asked 33 different artists and experts from every genre of music, including Busta Rhymes, Boots Riley, Boku, Mike Diamond from the Beastie boys and Talieb Quilly. Just to name a few. 

Once the votes were in, Rolling Stone crunched the numbers. The message was placed in the number one spot on the list. Grandmaster flash [00:09:00] stated himself. And when that project was on the slate to be done, The message I'm talking about. She would ask us for a period of time about doing a record, having to do with the real life things. 

That happened in the hood. And we kind of ducked it for a minute. Without Sylvia Robinson's assistance and pressure, there will be. No, the message. Neither Grandmaster flash, nor the other four members of the furious five had any type of involvement in creating the actual record. They just performed it. 

This was the first record of its kind where the DJ, who was the cornerstone of hip hop at the time, which is in the 1980s. Was not involved in creating a track that they performed. Sugar hill records folded in 1985 due to changes in the music industry. The competition of other hip hop labels, such as profile in Def jam and also financial pressures. 

Sylvia who had by now divorced Joe Robinson. Continued her efforts as a music, executive forming [00:10:00] Bon Ami records and 1987. The label was noted for signing the act, The New Style. Who later left and found success as Naughty By Nature. 

 Unfortunately Sylvia died on the morning of September 29th, 2011 at the age of 76. At Meadowlands hospital in Secaucus New Jersey. Due to congestive heart failure. All right. So let's talk a little bit about Sylvia, Robinson, some big names there, some big songs. Some of them I know. Some of these I grew up on. 

Then they mentioned love on a two way street. Probably one of the greatest love songs that was written back in the 1980's .It featured a very young Stacy Lattisaw But if you like me, a child growing up in the eighties, Everybody knew. Rappers Delight. 

It was a very long song. Each member that was performing, got to introduce themselves. In a [00:11:00] very unique way. But. The one thing that stuck out about that song. Was probably the end and everybody probably knows it. 

So forgive my rapping. 

But here's how the most popular part of the song went.

Have you ever went over a friend's house to eat? And the food just ain't no good. I mean the macaroni soggy, the peas all mushed the chicken tastes like wood. So you try to play it off, like you think you can, by saying that's your full. And then your friend says, mama, he's just being polite. He ain't finished uh uh that's bull. 

So your heart starts pumping and you think of a lie and you say that you already ate. And your friend says, man, there's plenty of food so you pile some more on your plate. While the stinky food steaming your your mind starts dreaming of the moment that it's time to leave. And then you look at your plate and your chicken slowly. 

rotting into something that looks like cheese. Oh, so you say that's it. I got to leave this place. I don't care what these people think. I'm just sitting here, making myself nauseous with [00:12:00] this ugly food that stinks.. So you bust out the door while it's still closed, still sick from the foods you ate and you run to the store for quick relief, from a bottle of kaopectate, and then you call your friend two weeks later to see how he has been. And he says I understand about the food baby, Bubba, but we were still friends. 

With a hip hop, the hippie to the hippie The hip hip-a hop-a you don't stop the rockin' To the bang bang boogie say up jump the boogie To the rhythm of the boogie the beat. That was one of the most popular, hip hop songs of all time. Especially with me growing up. And I never knew the whole full history, 

behind it . And yes, it was on Sugar Hill Records label. I'll never forget that label. That label was very, very colorful. When you see it, there was no mistaking it, and it has Sugar Hill, in the circle of the record with, you know, many, many different colors. So another great pioneer. [00:13:00] Pioneered many songs, a lot of these artists wouldn't be with where they are , especially grand master flash, another name from way back in the past. 

And certainly we would not have had Rappers Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang. Without Ms. Sylvia Robinson. So may Sylvia Robinson rest in peace. Thank you for all of the music that you brought to us. That without you, we would not have had. 

Alright guys that does it for this one, I will leave more information about Ms. Sylvia Robinson down in the show notes. If you want to go and check out some more about her.

I do thank you for tuning in for yet another black history fact. Remember, if you want to write to us, you can do so at adaywithcrime@gmail.com don't forget to check out our at www.adaywithcrime.com there you will find the whole [00:14:00] catalog of what is a day with crime. Also, we do give you brand new cases in true crime every Monday, and you can catch up on the old ones while you wait. 

So guys hope you guys are all out there having a great day or night wherever you are. And as always be good to yourself. and each other. And I'm going to catch you guys on the. Next one.