The music pioneer passed from several health issues
Sly Stone of Sly and The Family Stone has died at the age of 82. His family revealed his death happened today (Mon, June 9th).
“After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family,” his family says in a statement. “While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.”
Sylvester Stewart, better known as Sly Stone, was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, most famous as the frontman for the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone. He was a pivotal figure in the development of funk music, pioneering a unique fusion of soul, rock, psychedelia, and gospel.
Born in Denton, Texas on March 15, 1943 and raised in Vallejo, California, Stone displayed musical talent from an early age, mastering multiple instruments. He performed gospel music with his siblings, some of whom would later join him in the Family Stone.
In the mid-1960s, he worked as a record producer for Autumn Records and a disc jockey for San Francisco radio station KSOL (later KSOUL), where he notably integrated white artists like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones into his R&B playlists.
In 1966, he formed Sly and the Family Stone with his brother Freddie. The band was revolutionary for its time, being racially integrated and mixed-gender, with both men and women playing instruments. Their music was a “melting pot” of influences, featuring wah-wah guitars, distorted bass lines, church-styled organs, and horn riffs.
Sly and the Family Stone released iconic hits like “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” and “Family Affair.” Their sound was often characterized as “psychedelic soul” and was a significant departure from the prevailing Motown sound.
The band’s lyrics often promoted peace, love, and understanding, and their integrated lineup embodied their message against prejudice. Their performances at the Harlem Cultural Festival and Woodstock in 1969 cemented their place in music history.
Sly Stone’s innovative sound and approach deeply influenced countless artists across various genres, including George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and many hip-hop artists who sampled his work.
Despite his immense success, Stone struggled with drug addiction, which eventually led to the band’s decline and his retreat from the public eye. He made rare public appearances, including at the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1993.
In 2023, Sly Stone published his memoir, “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” which provided a candid account of his life, successes, and struggles. A documentary about his life, Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), was also released and is available on Hulu and Disney+. Directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Sly Lives! examines the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone. This film captures the rise, reign and subsequent fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists but also shines a light on how black artists in America navigate the unseen burden that comes with their success. Drawing from his own personal experience and relationships, Questlove tells an empathetic human story about the cost of genius, reframing the way we all engage with pop culture.
The band’s earliest live recording, The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967, will be available on Friday, July 18th on CD, LP, and digital download. The set is accompanied by a deluxe booklet with liner notes from the set’s Grammy-nominated producer Alec Palao, featuring exclusive interviews with Sly Stone and all of the original band members, never-before-seen photos, rare memorabilia, and more. The CD edition includes a bonus performance of Otis Redding’s classic “Try A Little Tenderness.”
