Sly Stone, the iconic frontman and founder of the groundbreaking funk band Sly and the Family Stone, passed away on Monday morning at the age of 82 in Los Angeles due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
His family released a statement saying, “Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend and his extended family. 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.”
Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas in 1943, Stone’s family relocated to Vallejo in the East Bay when he was an infant. It was in Vallejo where he picked up the nickname “Sly,” stemming from a schoolteacher’s misspelling of his name as “Slyvester.” During his teenage years, he honed his musical abilities in gospel choirs and doo-wop groups, setting the stage for a legendary career.
Before rising to fame as a musician, Stone made a name for himself as a DJ at San Mateo’s KSOL and Vallejo’s KDIA, where his innovative mixes of Black artists alongside mainstream rock tracks helped to lay the groundwork for his newly formed band. Sly and the Family Stone became one of the first racially and gender-integrated groups to achieve widespread acclaim.
The band burst onto the music scene with their first Top Ten hit, “Dance to the Music,” in 1967, followed by the 1969 release of their album “Stand!” which featured the chart-topping single “Everyday People.” The album also included several other hits, such as “Stand!” and “I Want to Take You Higher,” solidifying their place in music history. Their performance at Woodstock, along with their appearance at the Harlem Cultural Festival, enhanced their reputation and popularity, leading to the success of tracks like “Hot Fun in the Summertime.”
However, personal struggles and drug abuse began to tear the band apart. Stone reportedly traveled with a violin case filled with cocaine and PCP, which contributed to tensions within the group. Many non-addict band members eventually left, and Stone began replacing them with individuals who shared similar addictive behaviors.
This tumultuous atmosphere led to numerous canceled performances, as well as lackluster appearances on television shows such as the Mike Douglas Show and The Dick Cavett Show. Stone’s erratic behavior continued into his later years; during a 2008 concert in Santa Rosa, he abruptly left the stage just 22 minutes into the performance, announcing he needed to “take a piss.”
By 2011, reports emerged detailing Stone’s struggles, revealing that he was living in a van in Los Angeles.
Despite his personal challenges, Sly Stone’s musical legacy remains impactful. His work with Sly and the Family Stone has been sampled by a myriad of artists across genres, highlighting the band’s far-reaching influence. Notable samples include LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out,” Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation,” Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Brain,” the Beastie Boys’ “Egg Man,” Beck’s “Sissyneck,” and KRS-One’s “Sound of Da Police.”
Moreover, Dr. Dre’s 1991 track “Deep Cover,” which samples Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song,” featured a young rapper at the time who was known as Snoop Doggy Dogg, marking a significant moment in hip-hop history.
The revival of Sly and the Family Stone’s music, which was expected this summer due to a newly found recording of one of their first concerts—originally held in Redwood City and set to release as a live album in July—will now take on a poignant tone in light of Stone’s passing.
As fans and artists alike reflect on the enduring impact of Sly Stone and his musical contributions, it becomes evident that his profound influence on the music industry will resonate for generations to come.
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