Hip Hop

Hip Hop

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 7. [Sugar Hill Records].

[Sugar Hill Records]

Set of five early photographs of Sylvia Robinson and Sugar Hill Records Employees, ca 1982.

Lot Closed

July 25, 04:07 PM GMT

Estimate

2,500 - 3,500 USD

Lot Details

Description

[Sugar Hill Records]


Set of five early photographs of Sylvia Robinson and Sugar Hill Records Employees, ca 1982.


Set of 5 vintage photographs watermarked "This paper manufactured by Kodak"), ranging in size from 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 to 6 x 4 inches. One photo with some accretions to image side.

From the personal archives of Roosevelt "Dynamite" Simmons

Founded 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson (along with rarely seen co-founder Milton Malden), Sugar Hill Records' first record was the incomparable "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang. The song was the first-ever top 40 Hip Hop single, and the label would go on to produce hits for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Funky Four Plus One, Treacherous Three, and many more.


Roosevelt Dynamite Simmons, a close associate of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, was right there when Cowboy and Grandmaster Flash formed the group. Handpicked by Sylvia Robinson, he went from being a Sugar Hill intern to playing a key role as the group's hype man and road manager in their early years. His photos from that period include these intimate looks into the worlds of Sugar Hill Records nightlife polaroids from the Disco Fever, T-Connection, and the Audubon Ballroom, c. 1980-82. These lots of rare photos are from Dynamite’s personal photo archive.  


As follows:

  1. Sylvia Robinson standing outside of Sugar Hill Records. 
  2. Warren Moore (best friend of Joey Robinson Jr. and sometime stand-in for Wonder Mike of Sugar Hill Gang, worked at SH, at Sugar Hill offices.
  3. Sugar Hill employees Pansy Cooper front, Iris Perkins in rear.
  4. Sugar Hill receptionist/secretary Grea Davis. 
  5. Leslie Jackson on the phone at Sugar Hill offices.