via Facebook

Trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, who was a founding member of the seminal soul and funk band Sly and the Family Stone, has passed away at the age of 69.

As The Root points out, Robinson was one of the first black women trumpeters in a big-name band. She also provided vocals for the group and was considered Sly Stone’s “hype woman.”

Questlove took to Instagram to pay his respects to Robinson, lauding her contributions to The Family Stone both in the past and in more recent years when the band played a comeback tour. “Her & sister Rose weren’t just pretty accessories there to ‘coo & ‘shoo wop shoo bob’ while the boys got the glory,” he writes. “Naw. They took names and kicked ass while you were dancing in the aisle. Much respect to amazing #CynthiaRobinson.” View the post note below.

All The Squares Go Home. Goodbye to Cynthia Robinson. Music's original "hypeman" 20 years before Public Enemy pioneered the "Vice President" position. But she wasn't just a screaming cheerleading foil to Sly & Freddie's gospel vocals. She was a KICK ASS trumpet player. A crucial intricate part of Sly Stone's utopian vision of MLK's America: Sly & The Family Stone were brothers & cousins. friends & enemies. black & white. male & female. saint & sinner. common man & superheroes. guarded & vulnerable. poets & punks. hip & square. She was so cool to us the day we opened up for #SlyAndTheFamilyStone she never ever lost a step or a beat. Even when we weren't so sure if Sly was coming or going during that "comeback" tour (he'd play 20 mins, come onstage and cameo w em for 2 songs, leave, watch them then come back 30 mins later) Cynthia Robinson held that band down. Until her passing The Family Stone was one of the last few #RRHOF groups from the 60s in which ALL original members were still present & accounted for. part of me held hope that #LarryGraham would bury the hatchet & return to the fold just one more time (could you imagine HOW powerful a Sly #GCS combo coulda been? Even if Sly pulled that 6 song ish you know and I know #Prince would be in the wings as pinch hitter and we'd all be the more wiser for it. Cynthia's role in music history isn't celebrated enough. Her & sister Rose weren't just pretty accessories there to "coo" & "shoo wop shoo bob" while the boys got the glory. Naw. They took names and kicked ass while you were dancing in the aisle. Much respect to amazing #CynthiaRobinson

A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on