Sly and the Family Stone Trumpeter Cynthia Robinson Has Died

Photo via Robinson’s Facebook

Cynthia Robinson, the long-time trumpeter for Sly and the Family Stone, has died, according to a post on her Facebook page, as Billboard reports. She was 69 years old. The cause was cancer.

Robinson originally joined Sly Stone’s band Sly and the Stoners in the mid-60s. That group would go on to become Sly and the Family Stone. She played on every album credited to the original band, beginning with 1967′s A Whole New Thing, including 1969′s Stand! and 1971′s There’s a Riot Goin On and ending with 1974′s Small Talk.

Robinson continued recording with Stone after the Family Stone broke up, and also played with Graham Central Station, the band started by Family Stone bassist Larry Graham. In later years, she and Jerry Martini and Greg Errico performed as the Family Stone. Her daughter with Sly, Sylvette Phunne Stone, was also a member of the group. Robinson also played with Prince and George Clinton.

Robinson, along with the rest of Sly and the Family Stone, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

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