Funk pioneer Sly Stone, known for his band Sly and the Family Stone, passes away at 82 years old.
Revisited: A Look Back at Sly Stone, a Trailblazer in Funk and Beyond
Say goodbye to Sly Stone, the groundbreaking frontman of the iconic funk band, Sly and the Family Stone. At the age of 82, he departed this world, surrounded by his closest family and friends.
The Family Stone's statement read, "From a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, enveloped by his three children, his cherished friend, and his extended family." They continued, "With deep sorrow, we acknowledge his extraordinary musical legacy, which will continue to resonate and inspire generations."
Tracing his roots back to Texas, Sly Stone, whose birth name was Sylvester Stewart, formed a band with his brother Freddie and sisters Loretta and Rose at a tender age. The band initially played gospel music, but it didn't take long for them to branch out into the realm of funk and psychedelia.
In his 2023 memoir, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", Stone shared his desire to be remembered simply as "Music just music." He further explained, "I don’t want to get in people’s way and I don’t want them to get in my way. I just want to play my songs, I would do it for nothing."
Known primarily as a guitarist when the band was first formed, Stone sacrificed his role to Freddie, focusing on the keyboard instead. With a musical aptitude that was nothing short of prodigious, Stone became proficient in playing the guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums.
The Family Stone marked history as the first major American rock band to feature a mixed-race and gender lineup. In an interview with The Guardian in 2023, Stone reflected on the success of "Dance to the Music" and the positive impact it had on the public.
"I knew the music worked, but I didn't know if people would get it," Stone confessed. "That’s what happened after the first album—I poured everything into those songs. Music people liked it, but not everyone was a music person. 'Dance to the Music' came out as a simpler version, and more people understood that."
Peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, "Dance to the Music" springboarded the band into global recognition. It went on to release the mega-hits "Everyday People" and "Hot Fun in the Summertime", which reached numbers one and two, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
As the band grew in popularity, they took the stage at the original Woodstock in August 1969, performing an electric medley of hits like "Everyday People," "Dance To The Music," "Music Lover" and "I Want To Take You Higher." Despite initial success, the group soon fell prey to substance abuse, internal conflict, and missed shows. Stone himself admitted in his memoir that he became dependent on cocaine and PCP.
During the band's heyday, they released albums like "A Whole New Thing" and "Stand!", the latter featuring the hits mentioned earlier. In recent years, documentaries and a movie based on Stone's life have been developed, according to his family.
Sly took the stage for a live performance at the 2006 Grammys, marking his return to the spotlight, and occasionally made appearances in the ensuing years. Despite his struggles, Sly and the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
In memory of Stone, we recall his extraordinary musical journey, which undeniably left an indelible mark on the genre of funk, hip-hop, and pop. He will forever be cherished as a central figure in American popular music, inspiring artists of all genres for generations to come. In the words of Sly Stone himself, "I just want to play my songs."
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In Sly Stone's 2023 memoir, he expressed his wish to be remembered as "Music just music," emphasizing his desire for simplicity and preferring to let his music speak for itself.
Sly Stone, despite his personal struggles, made an impactful return to the spotlight with a live performance at the 2006 Grammys, demonstrating his resilience.
The first major American rock band to feature a mixed-race and gender lineup, Sly and the Family Stone, reached global recognition with hits like "Dance to the Music," "Everyday People," and "Hot Fun in the Summertime."
Even beyond the realm of politics, Sly Stone's influence transcended borders, making impacts on international music, entertainment, and cultural landscapes. Attending a Sly and the Family Stone concert might have felt like a celebration of diversity, unity, and the power of music, as seen through their groundbreaking performances at events like Woodstock.
