Sylvia Robinson Career Snapshots

Career Snapshots

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1956
Robinson claims she wrote the lyrics for Mickey & Sylvia's 'Love Is Strange' while Bo Diddley says he composed them. Still, the song is a hit, peaking at No 20 in the US

1968
Written and produced by Robinson, on its release The Moments' 'Love On A Two-Way Street' goes to No 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart

1973
Robinson returns to the spotlight herself for this '70s proto-disco shmooze, with lyrics dissolving into bouts of heavy breathing. 'Pillow Talk' is another No 3 hit

1975
Another smash single written by Robinson, Shirley And Company's 'Shame Shame Shame' goes on to become one of the first international disco hits

1980
The 15m-long song that put rap on the map, The Sugarhill Gang's 'Rapper's Delight' sells 2m copies and earns Sugar Hill Records $3.5m

1982
Party chants give way to cold social commentary and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's 'The Message' changes rap's direction forever

1983
Drugs, addiction and tales of inner city struggles as Grandmaster & Melle Mel's 'White Lines (Don't Do It)' secures Robinson's rap legacy

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