Sly and the Family Stone was an incredible rock/funk/pop band that had a ton of soulful and pop hits in the late 60s and 70s. It’s safe to say that the soul bands that sprouted across the US in the 80s and 90s owe a debt of gratitude to Sly.
In 2016, there was good news and bad. Sly won a multi-million dollar law suit, but Cynthia Robinson the band co-founder and trumpeter, died at the age of 69. Cynthia was the first African American woman to play horn in a major rock band.
Cynthia was also the mother of one of Sly’s children, Phunne Stone. How talented was she? Find the songs “Stand” or “Everybody is a Star” and turn it up to 11 – that’s how good she was! Vocally, listen to “Dance to the Music” – Cynthia is the woman’s voice that carries that classic.
Cynthia Robinson is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Sly and the Family Stone.
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