RIP Cynthia Robinson of Sly and the Family Stone

So sorry to learn that Cynthia Robinson of Sly and the Family Stone has died. My sincere condolences to all who loved her, especially to her two surviving daughters, Sylvette and Laura.

You may not know, but I am a gigantic sly and the family stone fan. Forever. In fact,  I did a tribute to Sly and the Family Stone in the original Pee-wee Herman Show on stage at THE GROUNDLINGS and at the Roxy and it is part of the HBO special made from that show.

In their hit song, “Dance to the Music,” Cynthia was the one singing “Get up and dance!”

Questlove shared some great information about her…

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

A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on Nov 24, 2015 at 2:48am PST

On NPR: http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/11/24/457256347/remembering-cynthia-robinson-co-founder-of-sly-the-family-stone

MORE: http://fox61.com/2015/11/27/cynthia-robinson-sly-and-the-family-stone-trumpeter-dead-at-71/

Rest in peace, dear Cynthia.