*Trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, also known as the voice in Sly and the Family Stone that screamed “get up and dance to the music,” died of cancer on Monday (Nov. 23) at the age of 69, according to her Facebook page.
Born in Sacramento, Robinson was one of the first female black trumpeters to gain notoriety in a major recording act. Saxophonist Jerry Martini tells Billboard: “She covered a lot of ground. She was the first female trumpet player and the first African-American trumpet player in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She wasn’t in the back. She was out front telling you to get up and dance to the music, and she could blow with the best of ’em, always.”
According to Billboard, Robinson joined Stone — who dubbed her “one of the best trumpeters in the world” — in his Sly and the Stoners band in 1966 and stayed on board as he crafted the pop/rock/R&B synthesis that became the Family Stone. After the group’s dissolution in 1975 she went on to play with bassist Larry Graham’s Graham Central Station and also worked with George Clinton, Prince and as part of Sinbad’s Aruba Summer Soul Festival.
Since 2006 she’s been part of the Family Stone with Martini and drummer Gregg Errico. The group also features her daughter with Sly Stone, Sylvette Phunne Stone, a singer and multi-instrumentalist in her own right. (Robinson had one other daughter, Laura Marie).
Robinson also sang lead vocals with her daughter on the Family Stone single “Do Yo Dance,” which came out this year.
Robinson’s cancer diagnosis was revealed on her Facebook page in October, along with the establishment of the Cynthia Robinson Cancer Care Fund. Robinson herself posted a message of thanks “to everyone who has donated. Love you all!” at the time, and the fund is remaining active “due to the rising medical costs,” with a Facebook page staying active “in her memory.”
Roots drummer Questlove paid loving tribute to Robinson on Instagram:
