Sly & The Family Stone Co-founder Cynthia Robinson Dies At Age 69

We’re sad to report musical legend Cynthia Robinson has died after a battle with cancer. Robinson co-founded Sly & The Family Stone and was a fixture at the band’s shows known for her singing, trumpet work and for hyping up the crowds. Word of Robinson’s death was revealed on her Facebook Page.

The Roots drummer Questlove remembered Robinson in post on Instagram,

All The Squares Go Home. Goodbye to Cynthia Robinson. Music’s original ‘hypeman’ 20 years before Public Enemy pioneered the ‘Vice President’ position. But she wasn’t just a screaming cheerleading foil to Sly & Freddie’s gospel vocals. She was a KICK ASS trumpet player. A crucial intricate part of Sly Stone’s utopian vision of MLK’s America: Sly & The Family Stone were brothers & cousins. friends & enemies. black & white. male & female. saint & sinner. common man & superheroes. guarded & vulnerable. poets & punks. hip & square. She was so cool to us the day we opened up for #SlyAndTheFamilyStone she never ever lost a step or a beat. Even when we weren’t so sure if Sly was coming or going during that ‘comeback’ tour (he’d play 20 mins, come onstage and cameo w em for 2 songs, leave, watch them then come back 30 mins later) Cynthia Robinson held that band down. Until her passing The Family Stone was one of the last few #RRHOF groups from the 60s in which ALL original members were still present & accounted for. part of me held hope that #LarryGraham would bury the hatchet & return to the fold just one more time (could you imagine HOW powerful a Sly #GCS combo coulda been? Even if Sly pulled that 6 song ish you know and I know #Prince would be in the wings as pinch hitter and we’d all be the more wiser for it. Cynthia’s role in music history isn’t celebrated enough. Her & sister Rose weren’t just pretty accessories there to ‘coo’ & ‘shoo wop shoo bob’ while the boys got the glory. Naw. They took names and kicked ass while you were dancing in the aisle. Much respect to amazing #CynthiaRobinson.

Cynthia Robinson was a vital part of Sly & The Family Stone upon the band’s founding in the late ’60s. She went on to perform with Sly after the group’s 1975 breakup and was also a member of bassist Larry Graham’s Graham Central Station outfit. In recent years she joined back up with The Family Stone and was on hand when Sly Stone made a surprise appearance earlier this year. Sly & The Family Stone were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cynthia’s friends and family.

[Hat Tip – The Root]