Sly Stone, who took audiences increased throughout memorable performances at Woodstock and the Fillmore West, however whose profession was stricken by drug issues and periodic disappearances, has died. He was 82.
Stone died after a “extended battle with COPD and different underlying well being points,” his household mentioned Monday.
“It’s with profound unhappiness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Household Stone,” they wrote in a press release. “Sly handed away peacefully, surrounded by his three kids, his closest good friend, and his prolonged household. Whereas we mourn his absence, we take solace in realizing that his extraordinary musical legacy will proceed to resonate and encourage for generations to come back.”
Sly and the Household Stone burst onto the scene in 1968 with the cathartic “Dance to the Music” and adopted with a string of crossover smash hits that outlined their hometown San Francisco’s “Summer time of Love,” together with “Stand!,” “Sizzling Enjoyable within the Summertime,” “Runnin’ Away,” “If You Need Me to Keep” and “Time for Livin’.”
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1993 and impressed everybody from Herbie Hancock to George Clinton’s P-Funk, Michael Jackson, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley, The Isley Brothers, Prince, Public Enemy, Pink Sizzling Chili Peppers, The Black Eyed Peas, The Roots, OutKast and Kendrick Lamar. Stone’s life was the topic of serious dialogue this yr due to Questlove’s documentary Sly Lives, which was launched to important acclaim earlier this yr.
“Sly was a monumental determine, a groundbreaking innovator, and a real pioneer who redefined the panorama of pop, funk, and rock music,” Sly’s household mentioned. “His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his affect stays plain. In a testomony to his enduring artistic spirit, Sly not too long ago accomplished the screenplay for his life story, a challenge we’re desirous to share with the world in the end, which follows a memoir printed in 2024.”
Born on March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Sylvester Stewart got here from a household of religious Christians who took their beliefs with them after they moved to Vallejo, California, a suburb northwest of San Francisco. Reared on church music, he was 8 when he and three of his siblings recorded a gospel single as The Stewart 4.
A musical prodigy who picked up the identify “Sly” in grade faculty, Stone was adept at keyboards, guitar, bass and drums by 11, and he went on to carry out in a number of highschool bands, certainly one of which, The Viscaynes, boasted a then unheard-of blended lineup and launched a number of singles.
After attending Vallejo Junior School, Stone obtained a job as a fast-talking DJ at San Francisco R&B station KSOL, the place his eclectic style stoked his reputation, working the brand new British bands like The Beatles, The Animals and The Stones into the station’s soul format.
By the point he introduced his present to crosstown KDIA, he had already been producing information for the native label, Autumn Data, due to DJ Tom Donahue, who beneficial him. The corporate was the house for such Bay Space bands as The Beau Brummels, The Charlatans, The Nice Society and The Mojo Males. In 1964, Stone produced Bobby Freeman’s Prime-5 pop hit, “C’mon and Swim.”
After main a band known as Sly and the Stoners, that includes trumpet participant Cynthia Robinson, Stone introduced in his brother Freddie on guitar, sister Rose on keyboards, Gregg Errico on drums, Jerry Martini on sax and Larry Graham on bass to finish Sly and the Household Stone.
They drew the curiosity of Epic Data, the place they signed and launched their debut album, A Entire New Factor on the finish of 1967’s Summer time of Love.
Regardless of essential acclaim, A Entire New Factor did not resonate with audiences. Nevertheless, the next launch of a brand new single, “Dance to the Music,” from the album of the identical identify, vaulted into the top-10 on each the pop and R&B charts.
“On a regular basis Individuals” (and its B-side, “Sing a Easy Tune”), launched in late 1968 and adopted by the album Stand! In Might of 1969, marked the crossover emergence of the band, going to No. 1 on each the pop and R&B charts, adopted by the title monitor and its B-side, “I Need To Take You Greater.” The album climbed to No. 3 R&B and No. 13 pop, the band’s first licensed platinum vendor, with iconic non-singles comparable to “Intercourse Machine.”
There’s a Riot Goin’ On is arguably Stone’s masterpiece, each critically and commercially — it went to the highest of each the Pop and R&B album charts inside a number of weeks of its launch in November 1971. The transformative masterpiece of race and music — a template for the later work of Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar, amongst others — the album was inducted into the Grammy Corridor of Fame in 1999.
That turned out to be Sly’s final hurrah. In June 1973, the band launched a brand new single, “If You Need Me to Keep.” (The departures of Graham and Errico throughout this era hastened the band’s demise.)
Persevering with with Epic, Sly recorded Excessive on You in 1975 and Heard Ya Missed Me, Nicely I’m Again a yr later.
In June 1983, Stone was arrested in Fort Myers, Florida, and charged with cocaine possession.
He toured with Bobby Womack, recorded with Jesse Johnson and launched a number of songs from soundtracks, together with “Eek-a-Boo Static Automated” for Soul Man (1986) and “I’m the Burglar” for Burglar (1987).
Stone sightings have been sporadic after that, although he did seem for his Rock Corridor induction and on the 2006 Grammys, the place he briefly and bizarrely participated in a multi-artist tribute to the band that includes John Legend, Fantasia, Adam Levine, Ciara, Steve Tyler and Joe Perry. He abruptly waved goodbye halfway by way of “I Wish to Take You Greater,” disappearing into the evening.
Sly Stone is survived by a son, Sylvester Jr. (from first spouse Kathy Silva), and two daughters, Sylvette (whose mother is Robinson) and Novena Carmel.
“We lengthen our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of affection and prayers throughout this troublesome time. We want peace and concord to all who have been touched by Sly’s life and his iconic music,” his household mentioned. “Thanks from the underside of our hearts in your unwavering help.”
