March 6, 1936 Sylvia Vanderpool Robinson, singer, record producer, and record company executive and the mother of hip-hop, was born in New York City.

Robinson began recording in 1950 under the name of Little Sylvia.

In 1956, she teamed with Mickey Baker as Mickey & Sylvia and recorded “Love is Strange” (1956) which topped the R&B charts. In 1966, Robinson and her husband founded All Platinum Records and produced hits like “I Won’t Do Anything” (1967) by Lezli Valentine and “Love on a Two-Way Street” (1970) by The Moments. In 1973, Robinson recorded “Pillow Talk” which reached number one on the R&B charts and number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1978, Robinson and her husband founded Sugar Hill Records and produced “Rappers Delight” (1979) by the Sugarhill Gang and “The Message” (1982), which was co-written and produced by Robinson, by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. Sugar Hill Records folded in 1985 and Robinson founded Bon Ami Records in 1987. Robinson died September 29, 2011.

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