Joseph Robinson Jr. | Record-label exec, 53

Joseph Robinson Jr., 53, an executive at Sugarhill Records, died of cancer Saturday.

Family spokesman Greg Walker said Wednesday that Mr. Robinson, better known as Joey, died at his home in Tenafly, N.J..

Mr. Robinson's mother, Sylvia Robinson, founded Sugarhill Records and released the 1979 seminal rap song, "Rapper's Delight," on her label. The song from the Sugarhill Gang became hip-hop's first hit, making its way into the Top 40 on the Billboard pop charts. She died in 2011.

Mr. Robinson was the executor of Sugarhill Music Publishing. He handled deals with artists who sampled music from Sugarhill Records' catalog. - AP