Died On This Date (September 29, 2011) Sylvia Robinson / Founder Of Sugar Hill Records; Hip-Hop Pioneer
themusicsover Sylvia Robinson (Born Sylvia Vanterpool)
March 6, 1936 – September 29, 2011
Sylvia Robinson is best remembered as the founder and CEO of influential rap label, Sugar Hill Records who introduced most of the world to rap and hip-hop thanks to a stable of artists that included the Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Melle Mel, and the Treacherous Three. In doing so, Robinson was largely responsible for what we know as popular music, fashion, and pop culture today. Born in New York City, Robinson achieved a bit of success as a singer herself when she released the moderate hit, “Love Is Strange” in 1957. By the late ’60s, she had moved over to the label side of the business with her own company, All Platinum Records where she produced and released mostly soul records. In 1973, Robinson released another record, this time simply as Sylvia. It was called “Pillow Talk” and sold over 2 million copies, ultimately reaching #3 on the pop charts. It is widely considered one of the foundations on which disco was built, while its drumming rhythm would later be heard on “Running Up The Hill” by Kate Bush and “Big Love” by Fleetwood Mac. During the late ’70s, Robinson, her husband, Joe Robinson, and Milton Malden launched Sugar Hill Records where she quickly helped form the Sugarhill Gang who went on to release rap music’s first commercially successful single, 1979’s “Rapper’s Delight.” Robinson soon followed that with “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. That song is credited for bringing socially conscience lyrics to rap, and along with other early releases from Sugar Hill, introduced the fine art of sampling to the world. According to S2S Magazine, Sylvia Robinson reportedly died of congestive heart failure on September 29, 2011. She was 75.
Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.
Esther Gordy Edwards was a pioneering businesswoman who is perhaps best remembered as an executive at her younger brother, Berry Gordy’s Motown Records. After graduating from Howard University in the mid ’40s, Edwards opened Gordy Printing Company with two of her brothers with whom she later started Ber-Berry Co-Op along with her husband (then Michigan state Representative, George Edwards) as a way to provide loans for family members. It was with an $800 loan from the lender that brother Berry launched Motown. Edwards soon joined the label’s management team and took charge of booking tours and artist management among other duties. Within the label, Edwards was affectionately referred to as the “Mother of Motown” due to her nurturing and encouragement, particularly of some of the younger artists. On occasion, she served as a strict chaperone on the their early Motortown Revue tours. Edwards eventually became the Senior Vice President and CEO of the Motown. She later served on the boards of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce and a local bank. During the mid ’80s, Edwards took over the day-to-day of Hitsville, USA – the Motown museum, which houses the original Motown studios among other priceless artifacts. Esther Gordy Edwards was 91 when she passed away peacefully in her home on August 24, 2011.
Jerry Leiber along with partner, Mike Stoller was arguably the greatest pop songwriting team of the second half of the 20th century if not all time. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Leiber moved to Los Angeles where he met Stoller in 1950 while the pair were still in high school. Leiber, a record store clerk, and Stoller, a pianist quickly realized that they shared a love of the blues and rhythm & blues music and immediately began collaborating on songs. Within the next few years, their creations were becoming hits for singers of jazz, blues, R&B and rock ‘n roll alike. The list of their early hit songs includes “Hard Times” by 
Joel Chin was the Director of A&R for the family run reggae dynasty known as VP Records. Founded in New York City in 1979 by Chin’s Jamaican-born grandparents, Patricia and Vincent Chin, VP has grown into the world’s largest independent reggae label. Its name has become synonymous with contemporary roots reggae, dancehall and soca. During the mid ’90s, Chin joined the family business – his father is legendary reggae producer, Clive Chin who has worked with Black Uhuru and