NEW YORK - Paula Wagner has acquired the film rights to the life story of legendary Sylvia Robinson - singer, songwriter, record producer, publisher, and record company head—who triumphed in the cutthroat music business, overcame a turbulent love life, and forever changed popular culture with her music. The film will feature the historic music that defined the times, owned by Sylvia Robinson’s family and administered by Universal Music Publishing Group. Rights to Sylvia's life story were acquired directly from the family. Sylvia’s son, Joey Robinson, will Executive Produce and consult on the project. Veteran music executive Robert Kraft will Co-Produce. Grandmaster Melle Mel, lead rapper of the group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 will serve as a consultant to Joey Robinson.

Sylvia Robinson (1935-2011) is known as the "Mother of Hip Hop," and is best remembered for pioneering the recording of rap and hip hop music, most notably 1979’s “Rapper’s Delight,” widely considered one of the most influential hip-hop singles of all time. Robinson was also instrumental in the genre’s movement towards lyrics with a social consciousness that put a spotlight on life in the inner city. Rolling Stone Magazine named Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message”, produced by Sylvia and released by her own record label, Sugar Hill, the greatest hip hop song of all time.

The motion picture will chart Sylvia Robinson’s remarkable and empowering true life as she spent more than forty years as a music pioneer. Sylvia was one of the few women in the music industry who could literally do it all—recording, performing, writing, producing and nurturing talent, as well as running her own successful record and publishing companies.

She had success as a duo: Mickey and Sylvia’s #1 R&B hit and top 10 song “Love is Strange” in 1957 has been featured in classic movies including Casino and Dirty Dancing; the album was one of the largest selling soundtrack albums of all time; “Love is Strange” was later sampled in the song “Back in Time” by Pitbull for the motion picture theme song Men in Black 3. As a producer/writer: The Moments’ #1 and #2 R&B hit “Love on a Two Way Street” in 1970 was later sampled in the #1 R&B and pop song “Empire State of Mind” by Jay Z and Alicia Keys and the #1 worldwide dance hit “Shame Shame Shame” by Shirley and Company and “Sexy Mama” by The Moments. As a solo artist: #1 and #3 R&B pop song “Pillow Talk” in 1973 was one of the songs credited to introducing sensual music to the world. Some of the other artists Sylvia wrote and produced for include: Ike and Tina Turner, Kid Rock , Puff Daddy, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Kool Moe D, Snoop Dog, Stacy Lattisaw and many others.

Sylvia and her husband Joe Robinson, launched the successful R&B record label All Platinum Records in 1970’s. In 1979, they started Sugar Hill Records that sparked a music revolution by bringing rap music from the back streets of NYC to the masses. Her dreams were nearly derailed by a tumultuous relationship with her husband, and the nefarious underside of the music business that threatened to jeopardize everything she worked for.

PAULA WAGNER (Producer) noted film and theatre producer.

Quote from Paula Wagner: “Sylvia Robinson’s life story has all the elements of a great film. It is not only the story of female empowerment at a time when the world of music was male dominated, but it’s also a story of the origin of hip hop and how this woman’s determination, immense talent and savvy business sense fostered an entire musical movement. ”

JOEY ROBINSON (Executive Producer, Consultant) is the Founder/CEO of Sugar Hill Music and the Administrator of the Sylvia Robinson Estate. He is a co-founder and member of “The Sugarhill Gang.”

Quote from Joey Robinson: “Over the years I had many offers to do the Sylvia Robinson/Sugar Hill story but I just didn't feel it was the right company and time to do it; However, after being introduced to Paula Wagner by Zach Horowitz, I knew right then that she was the person I wanted to do this project. This movie is going to show how my parents were able to remain independent, keep control of their publishing and master recordings and how they later dealt with the major record labels and mob associates. Sugarhill paved the way for a new genre of music that the industry had no knowledge of back in 1979. You will see the struggles of what Sugarhill went through to keep hip hop music alive when the industry wanted to bury it.”

ROBERT KRAFT (Co-Producer) is an Oscar, Grammy and two-time Golden Globe-nominated songwriter and producer.

Quote from Robert Kraft: “Sylvia Robinson was a transformational figure in music and culture, not just in America, but ultimately around the world. I am honored to be working with Paula and Joey to bring her amazing story to the screen.”

BIOGRAPHIES:

PAULA WAGNER (Producer) is a film and theatre producer who has worked at the top ranks of the entertainment industry. She was a co-founder of Cruise/Wagner Productions and produced more than 20 films including the Mission: Impossible trilogy, The Last Samurai, Vanilla Sky and The Others. Wagner’s Broadway producing credits include Mothers & Sons (Tony nomination), The Heiress and Grace. She was also a prominent agent at Creative Artists Agency and the CEO of United Artists (2006-2008). Additional producing credits include “Five” (Lifetime) and “The Governors Awards” ceremony for AMPAS, 2013. Wagner is currently collaborating with Desen International Media on a China-US co-production of Moon Flowers of the Flying Tigers, an epic WWII romantic drama based on a true story.

JOEY ROBINSON (Executive Producer, Consultant) is the Founder/CEO of Sugar Hill Music and the Administrator of the Sylvia Robinson Estate. He is the son of Sylvia and Joseph Robinson.

ROBERT KRAFT (Co-Producer) is an Oscar, Grammy and two-time Golden Globe-nominated songwriter and producer. As President of Music at Fox from 1994-2012, he was the executive in charge of music for over 300 films, generating award-winning, multi-platinum soundtracks including Titanic, Moulin Rouge, Garden State, Slumdog Millionaire and 500 Days of Summer. In 2012 he started Kraftbox Entertainment, an independent production and consulting company. He is currently the soundtrack consultant for Warner Brothers Records.