Cynthia Robinson, trumpeter and founding member of Sly and the Family Stone

LA Times ^ | Dec 3, 2015 | jill.leovy@latimes.com

[o_1_2_3__]

Girls don't play trumpet, they told her.

Cynthia Robinson had an answer to that — one that would later resonate in the hit song she recorded with Sly and the Family Stone: "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)."

At a time when black women were relegated to roles as backup singers...

Robinson died of cancer Nov. 23 in Carmichael, Calif. She was 71.

Robinson, born Jan. 12, 1944, in Sacramento, was the daughter of LaVern Robinson, a concert pianist, and William Robinson, a military man.

Cynthia began playing in the school band as a young girl. She tried various instruments. Then she heard someone playing the trumpet and knew she had to learn.

"She thought it was amazing," Cook said.

Robinson later followed up with Stone in San Francisco, where he was working as a disc jockey, and the two became a couple. In 1967, they became founding members of what would become a seven-member band.

She didn't think she could sing. But Stone urged her to. Her untamed shout became part of the band's style. It was typical of Stone, who accepted neither racial, gender nor musical barriers.

"He was into group music. And if you were a good musician and could get along with the group, you could play," Cook said.

After it split in the mid-1970s, Robinson toured with Prince, played with former Sly bassist Larry Graham's Grand Central Station and, until recently, toured as part of the Family Stone, which continues to perform.

Robinson's daughters grew up in a home where "there was always music playing," Cook said.

Robinson is survived by Cook and daughter Sylvyette Phunne Stewart — whose father is Sly Stone — and by five granddaughters, one grandson and six great-grandchildren.

[o_1_2_3__]

These people made some great music, and that horn section kicked.

Unfortunately, it was struggle to read this because it really wasn't about Cynthia Robinson, it was about what journalists exist to do: publish the pre-revolutionary language of class struggle and victimhood. And if a minor celebrity's death can be leveraged to that end, its a win for the shameless journalist.

They propogate this because their sponsors know that "language structures thought," and if people's minds can be filled with semantical buckets labeled "racism" and "victimhood", then those minds will serve the cause.

Absolutely shameless.

RIP Cynthia and rock on.

[OwenKellogg]

Music’s still flashin’ me
Don’t ya, don’t ya, don’t don’t don’t ya want to get higher
Baby baby baby light my fire
I wanna take you higher

Boom laka-laka-laka, boom laka-laka-laka
Boom laka-laka-laka, boom laka-laka-laka
Boom laka-laka-laka, boom laka-laka-laka

Higher
Higher
Higher

Feeling that should make you move
Sounds that should help you groove

Music still flashin’ me
Take your places
I want to take you higher
I want to take you higher
Baby baby baby light my fire
I wanna take you higher

Boom laka-laka-laka, boom laka-laka-laka
Boom laka-laka-laka, boom laka-laka-laka
Boom laka-laka-laka, boom laka-laka-laka

Thanks for the music. Rest in peace.

[TomServo]

Sly and the family absolutely rocked.

[dontreadthis]

the warm-up band for Hendrix at the Filmore East circa 1970

[Psalm 73]

They definitely carved out their own niche with a unique blend of jazz/rock/funk/blues.
I think it was "Higher" where you could hear Sly shout out: "Cynthia on the horn!"
Thought "Family Affair" was the best (of a lot of great ones).

[capt. norm]

"Boom laka-laka-laka, boom laka-laka-laka"

I think I liked it better when they did it.....but you were close second.

[TTFlyer]

Yes the did, trendsetters in every way.

[UCANSEE2]

Ahhhhh.... the good old days when racism was almost non-existent and people were known by their acts, not their skin-color or hair-style.

[real saxophonist]

Bump. I marched Drum Corps with some girls who could play the hell out of some brass.

[MUDDOG]

Her untamed shout

Dennis Miller had it in one of his talk show intros.

[TTFlyer]

A better day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4URogrXiKsI

[Psalm 73]

Yea, good stuff - they don’t make ‘em like that anymore.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[skeeter]

I remember their controversial performance on Ed Sullivan.

[BenLurkin]

RIP Cynthia
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5BP2KlPD4U

[God luvs America]

she was incredible...i encourage everyone to check this out- found this a few months ago and its incredible:

Sly and the Family Stone live at the Harlem Cultural Festival, Mount Morris Park, Harlem, NY June 29th, 1969. Doesn’t get much better than this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mH7194qDqI

[BenLurkin]

My very first LP:

[bigbob]

“Cynthia on the drums!”

Farxiga ad running on FNC as I type this, “Every Day People” is the music...hope the royalties help the band members.

[bt-99]

Stand! Is my favorite Sly song.
But, I don’t think it s politically correct anymore to sing “there’s a midget standing tall”

[dayglored]

One of the best bands ever. Changed the face of modern music.