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TimesLIVE
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
US funk pioneer Sly Stone dies aged 82
Sly Stone, the driving force behind Sly and the Family Stone, a multiracial American band whose boiling mix of rock, soul and psychedelia embodied 1960s idealism and helped popularise funk music, has died at the age of 82, his family said on Monday. Stone died after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health issues, a statement from his family said. 'While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire generations to come,' the statement said. Stone was perhaps best known for his performance in 1969 at the historic Woodstock music festival, the hippie culture's coming-out party. His group was a regular on the US music charts in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with hits such as Dance to the Music, I Want to Take You Higher, Family Affair, Everyday People, If You Want Me to Stay, and Hot Fun in the Summertime. But he later fell on hard times and became addicted to cocaine, never staging a successful comeback. The confident and mercurial Stone played a leading role in introducing funk, an Afrocentric style of music driven by grooves and syncopated rhythms, to a broader audience.
New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Sly Stone, frontman of iconic 1960s funk band, dies at 82
WASHINGTON: Sly Stone, the driving force behind Sly and the Family Stone, a multiracial American band whose boiling mix of rock, soul and psychedelia embodied 1960s idealism and helped popularize funk music, has died at the age of 82, his family said on Monday. Stone died after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health issues, a statement from his family said. "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," the statement said. Stone was perhaps best known for his performance in 1969 at the historic Woodstock music festival, the hippie culture's coming-out party. His group was a regular on the US music charts in the late 1960s and 1970s, with hits such as "Dance to the Music," "I Want to Take You Higher", "Family Affair", "Everyday People", "If You Want Me to Stay", and "Hot Fun in the Summertime". But he later fell on hard times and became addicted to cocaine, never staging a successful comeback. The confident and mercurial Stone played a leading role in introducing funk, an Afrocentric style of music driven by grooves and syncopated rhythms, to a broader audience. James Brown had forged the elements of funk before Stone founded his band in 1966, but Stone's brand of funk drew new listeners. It was celebratory, eclectic, psychedelic and rooted in the counterculture of the late 1960s. "They had the clarity of Motown but the volume of Jimi Hendrix or The Who," Parliament-Funkadelic frontman George Clinton, a contemporary of Stone and another pioneering figure in funk, once wrote. When Sly and the Family Stone performed, it felt like the band was "speaking to you personally," Clinton said. Stone made his California-based band, which included his brother Freddie and sister Rose, a symbol of integration. It included Black and white musicians, while women, including the late trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, had prominent roles. That was rare in a music industry often segregated along racial and gender lines. Stone, with his orb-like Afro hairstyle and wardrobe of vests, fringes and skin-tight leather, lived the life of a superstar. At the same time, he allowed bandmates to shine by fostering a collaborative, free-flowing approach that epitomized the 1960s hippie ethic. "I wanted to be able for everyone to get a chance to sweat," he told Rolling Stone magazine in 1970. DISC JOCKEY TO SINGER Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, he moved as a child with his family to Northern California, where his father ran a janitorial business. He took the show business name Sly Stone and worked for a time as a radio disc jockey and a record producer for a small label before forming the band. The band's breakthrough came in 1968, when the title track to their second album, "Dance to the Music," cracked the Top 10. A year later, Sly and the Family Stone performed at Woodstock before dawn. Stone woke up a crowd of 400,000 people at the music festival, leading them in call-and-response style singing. Stone's music became less joyous after the idealistic 1960s, reflecting the polarization of the country after opposition to the Vietnam War and racial tensions triggered unrest on college campuses and in African American neighbourhoods in big US cities. In 1971, Sly and the Family Stone released "There's a Riot Goin' On", which became the band's only No. 1 album. Critics said the album's bleak tone and slurred vocals denoted the increasing hold of cocaine on Stone. But some called the record a masterpiece, a eulogy to the 1960s. In the early 1970s, Stone became erratic and missed shows. Some members left the band. But the singer was still a big enough star in 1974 to attract a crowd of 21,000 for his wedding to actress and model Kathy Silva at Madison Square Garden in New York. Silva filed for divorce less than a year later. Sly and the Family Stone's album releases in the late 1970s and early 1980s flopped, as Stone racked up drug possession arrests. But the music helped shape disco and, years later, hip-hop artists kept the band's legacy alive by frequently sampling its musical hooks. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and Stone was celebrated in an all-star tribute at the Grammy Awards in 2006. He sauntered on stage with a blond Mohawk but bewildered the audience by leaving mid-song. In 2011, after launching what would become a years-long legal battle to claim royalties he said were stolen, Stone was arrested for cocaine possession. That year, media reported Stone was living in a recreational vehicle parked on a street in South Los Angeles. Stone had a son, Sylvester, with Silva. He had two daughters, Novena Carmel, and Sylvette "Phunne" Stone, whose mother was bandmate Cynthia Robinson.
Black America Web
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dead At 82, Social Media Remembers His Greatness
Source: Michael Putland / Getty Sylvester Stone, who, along with his band The Family Stone, had a major impact on rock, funk, R&B, and hip-hop music, has passed away. He was 82. His family says that the musician passed away after a health battle that included COPD, a progressive lung disease. '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 said in a statement obtained by Variety. '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.' In the '60s, Sly and the Family Stone released groundbreaking albums including Dance to the Music and There's a Riot Goin' On from 1967 to 1974. The multi-racial band included his brother, Freddie, on guitar and vocals, and his sister, Rose, on keyboard and piano, as well as Cynthia Robinson on trumpet and Larry Graham on bass. Their big hits included 'Dance to the Music,' 'Everyday People,' and 'I Want to Take You Higher.' Not only was the band one of the first of its era to feature both male and female instrumentalists, but it was also one of the first to include both men and women. Stone, born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, on March 15, 1943, moved to Northern California with his family as a child. His musical career started with his siblings as the gospel group the Stewart Four. After studying music at Vallejo College, he became a radio personality at San Francisco's KSOL Radio and then moved on to producing artists at Autumn Records. He formed Sly and the Family Stone in 1966, and they soon reached the pinnacle of the music world in an era when rock and psychedelia dominated. They combined genres, incorporating funk, R&B, and soul, to craft their own unique sound in a world where rock stars were predominantly white and male. They, along with Jimi Hendrix and others, played the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969. The band was considered a direct influence on Prince's most commercially successful group, The Revolution, with which he performed during the Purple Rain era. It also included Black and white musicians and women who played instruments. Graham played in The New Power Generation, Prince's band in the 1990s, and remained connected to him throughout the latter part of his life. A proposed collaboration that Stone mentioned in his 2023 memoir never materialized, but the men shared mutual admiration for each other, and Prince often played covers of Stone's music in his live shows. Hip hop musicians sampled Stone as well. Dr. Dre and Snoop used 'Sing a Simple Song' for 'Deep Cover.' KRS used it as well for 'Sound of Da Police.' LL Cool J's song, 'Mama Said Knock You Out,' incorporates 'Trip To Your Heart.' Sly and the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Earlier this year, Questlove of The Roots directed a documentary on Stone called Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) for Hulu. Stone's career was derailed by drug abuse after the original Sly and the Family Stone broke up unofficially around 1975. He was at one time living in a van and was homeless, then spent years out of the public eye. However, Stone resurfaced in recent years, playing select live shows and contributing to the writing of his memoir and the documentary. His family's statement concluded, 'Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music. His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable. In a testament to his enduring creative spirit, Sly recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course, which follows a memoir published in 2024.' Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dead At 82, Social Media Remembers His Greatness was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Questlove Honors ‘Giant' Sly Stone: ‘His Music Will Echo Forever'
Questlove is remembering the late great, Sly Stone. In a lengthy and emotional Instagram post, the musician — who directed the documentary Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), about Stone's life and has long described him as an inspiration — reflected on the legend's legacy and enduring impact on music at large. 'Sly Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, left this earth today, but the changes he sparked while here will echo forever. From the moment his music reached me in the early 1970s, it became a part of my soul,' Questlove wrote. 'Sly was a giant — not just for his groundbreaking work with the Family Stone, but for the radical inclusivity and deep human truths he poured into every note.' More from Rolling Stone The Struggle for Sly's Soul at the Garden Watch Sly and the Family Stone Rip Through 'I Want to Take You Higher' at Woodstock Sly Stone, Family Stone Architect Who Fused Funk, Rock, and Soul, Dead at 82 'His songs weren't just about fighting injustice; they were about transforming the self to transform the world,' he added. 'He dared to be simple in the most complex ways — using childlike joy, wordless cries, and nursery rhyme cadences to express adult truths. His work looked straight at the brightest and darkest parts of life and demanded we do the same.' Questlove also acknowledged Stone's battle with addiction and how he 'disappeared from the spotlight,' but also how he outlasted his 'disciples' and was able to 'feel the ripples of his genius return through hip-hop samples, documentaries, and his memoir.' 'Still, none of that replaces the raw beauty of his original work. As I reflect on his legacy, two lines haunt me: 'We deserve everything we get in this life' — a line from the Sly Lives! documentary that feels like both a warning and a manifestation — and, of course, the eternal cry of 'Everyday People': 'We got to live together!' Once idealistic, now I hear it as a command.' Questlove ended his post by thanking Stone and reminding followers how Stone's music will 'likely speak to us even more now than it did then.' He concluded: 'You will forever live… Love to your family, loved ones and every human whose life you came across and [affected]. All of your disciples will be geeked to receive you.' Stone died Monday at the age of 82 following a 'prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues,' according to a statement by his family. Questlove directed 2025's Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), which reexamined Stone's legacy and focused on how his influence continues to impact popular music today. It included commentary from Chaka Khan, D'Angelo, Q-Tip, and Family Stone members Larry Graham and Jerry Martini, among others. 'My intent was always to use Sly Stone to tell our story, my story, D'Angelo's story, Lauryn Hill's story, Frank Ocean's story,' Questlove told Rolling Stone. 'When you're talking about 'blowing it,' a lot of times the fear of failing or the fear of returning to where you came from — which is the very bottom — causes you anxiety about your future, and then causes you to fumble it.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
AsiaOne
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Sly Stone, leader of 1960s funk band, dies at age 82, Entertainment News
Sly Stone, the driving force behind Sly and the Family Stone, a multiracial American band whose boiling mix of rock, soul and psychedelia embodied 1960s idealism and helped popularise funk music, has died at the age of 82, his family said on Monday (June 9). Stone died after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health issues, a statement from his family said. "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," the statement said. [embed] Stone was perhaps best known for his performance in 1969 at the historic Woodstock music festival, the hippie culture's coming-out party. His group was a regular on the US music charts in the late 1960s and 1970s, with hits such as "Dance to the Music," "I Want to Take You Higher," "Family Affair," "Everyday People," "If You Want Me to Stay," and "Hot Fun in the Summertime." But he later fell on hard times and became addicted to cocaine, never staging a successful comeback. The confident and mercurial Stone played a leading role in introducing funk, an Afrocentric style of music driven by grooves and syncopated rhythms, to a broader audience. James Brown had forged the elements of funk before Stone founded his band in 1966, but Stone's brand of funk drew new listeners. It was celebratory, eclectic, psychedelic and rooted in the counterculture of the late 1960s. "They had the clarity of Motown but the volume of Jimi Hendrix or The Who," Parliament-Funkadelic frontman George Clinton, a contemporary of Stone and another pioneering figure in funk, once wrote. When Sly and the Family Stone performed, it felt like the band was "speaking to you personally," Clinton said. Stone made his California-based band, which included his brother Freddie and sister Rose, a symbol of integration. It included Black and white musicians, while women, including the late trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, had prominent roles. That was rare in a music industry often segregated along racial and gender lines. Stone, with his orb-like Afro hairstyle and wardrobe of vests, fringes and skin-tight leather, lived the life of a superstar. At the same time, he allowed bandmates to shine by fostering a collaborative, free-flowing approach that epitomised the 1960s hippie ethic. "I wanted to be able for everyone to get a chance to sweat," he told Rolling Stone magazine in 1970. Disc jockey to singer Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, he moved as a child with his family to Northern California, where his father ran a janitorial business. He took the show business name Sly Stone and worked for a time as a radio disc jockey and a record producer for a small label before forming the band. The band's breakthrough came in 1968, when the title track to their second album, Dance to the Music, cracked the Top 10. A year later, Sly and the Family Stone performed at Woodstock before dawn. Stone woke up a crowd of 400,000 people at the music festival, leading them in call-and-response style singing. Stone's music became less joyous after the idealistic 1960s, reflecting the polarisation of the country after opposition to the Vietnam War and racial tensions triggered unrest on college campuses and in African American neighbourhoods in big US cities. In 1971, Sly and the Family Stone released There's a Riot Goin' On, which became the band's only No. 1 album. Critics said the album's bleak tone and slurred vocals denoted the increasing hold of cocaine on Stone. But some called the record a masterpiece, a eulogy to the 1960s. In the early 1970s, Stone became erratic and missed shows. Some members left the band. But the singer was still a big enough star in 1974 to attract a crowd of 21,000 for his wedding to actress and model Kathy Silva at Madison Square Garden in New York. Silva filed for divorce less than a year later. Sly and the Family Stone's album releases in the late 1970s and early 1980s flopped, as Stone racked up drug possession arrests. But the music helped shape disco and, years later, hip-hop artists kept the band's legacy alive by frequently sampling its musical hooks. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and Stone was celebrated in an all-star tribute at the Grammy Awards in 2006. He sauntered on stage with a blond Mohawk but bewildered the audience by leaving mid-song. In 2011, after launching what would become a years-long legal battle to claim royalties he said were stolen, Stone was arrested for cocaine possession. That year, media reported Stone was living in a recreational vehicle parked on a street in South Los Angeles. Stone had a son, Sylvester, with Silva. He had two daughters, Novena Carmel, and Sylvette "Phunne" Stone, whose mother was bandmate Cynthia Robinson. [[nid:718655]]
