Trumpeter and founding member of Sly & The Family Stone Cynthia Robinson has passed away.
Robinson died on Monday at 69 years old after a long battle with cancer, according to her Facebook page. "Our condolences go out to the Robinson Family and her bandmates and all family & friends," the post read. "You are in our thoughts and prayers and we are here for you. Please continue to support the Cynthia Robinson Cancer Care Fund due to the rising medical costs (anything helps). This site will stay up in her memory. God bless you Cynthia!"
Robinson was the voice that commanded us to "get up and dance to the music," according to Billboard. She was the woman who Sly Stone put "on the throne" in their hit song "Dance to the Music."
Her cancer diagnosis was announced on her Facebook page last month when a cancer fund was established for her. At the time, she posted a personal thank you "to everyone who has donated. Love you all!"
"She covered a lot of ground," saxophonist Jerry Martini said of Robinson, according to Billboard. "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."
The Roots drummer Questlove shared a tribute on Instagram. "Goodbye to Cynthia Robinson. Music's original 'hypeman' 20 years before Public Enemy pioneered the 'Vice President' position," he wrote. "But she wasn't just a screaming cheerleading roil to Sly & Freddie's gospel vocals. She was a KICK ASS trumpet player...Cynthia's role in music history isn't celebrated enough...Much respect to amazing #CynthiaRobinson."
