Sly Stone, the influential but enigmatic funk-rock star whose soulful, socially conscious recordings changed the course of popular music before he abruptly retreated from the spotlight and became rock’s J.D. Salinger, died on Monday, according to his family.
He was 82.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone,” his family said in a statement. “After a long battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly died peacefully, surrounded by his three children, best friend, and extended family.
While we mourn his loss, we take comfort in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire future generations.”
“Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music,” according to their statement. “His iconic songs have had an indelible impact on the world, and his influence is undeniable.
Sly recently finished the screenplay for his life story, which we are excited to share with the world in due course, following a memoir published in 2024.”
Sylvester Stewart was born in Denton, Texas, the second of five children. His family was a member of the Church of God In Christ (COGIC), and they remained involved with the denomination after moving to Vallejo, California.
He was eight years old when he and three of his siblings recorded a gospel single as the Stewart Four.
“A musical prodigy, he became known as Sly in early elementary school, after a friend misspelled ‘Sylvester.'” According to his website, he began playing keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums at the age of eleven and went on to perform in several high school bands.
“One of these groups, the Viscaynes, had an integrated lineup, which drew attention in the late 1950s. The group recorded a few singles, and Sly released a few singles during that time, collaborating with his younger brother Freddie.”
While attending Vallejo Junior College, he studied composition, theory, and trumpet. He became a well-known disc jockey at R&B radio station KSOL.
His “eclectic musical tastes” contributed to his show is success, as the young DJ was “an early proponent of including R&B-flavored white artists” such as the Beatles, the Animals, and the Rolling Stones. He later took his DJ skills to KDIA, where he worked until 1967, when he formed his now-legendary band Sly and the Family Stone.
According to his personal website, “Sly and the Family Stone upset the Las Vegas status quo when they were booked into a three-month, six-nights-a-week gig at the Pussycat a’ Go Go, an engagement that was attended by everyone from James Brown to Bobby Darin.”
They would use their Mondays off to fly to Los Angeles and record their debut album, “A Whole New Thing.” It featured their first hit single, “Dance to the Music,” which was also released as a single on their second album.
While the band was initially successful, Stone eventually ran into financial difficulties and was later plagued by health problems and even homelessness.
He was praised as a musical genius, but he also became known for his reclusiveness.
Before disappearing, Stone was a powerful creative force in the late 1960s and early 1970s, working as a singer, songwriter, bandleader, and producer. His band’s other hits include “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Thank You [Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin],” and “Family Affair.”
Sly and the Family Stone’s 1969 performance at the Harlem Cultural Festival was immortalized in the Oscar-winning documentary “Summer of Soul,” directed by musician Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
Thompson was also working on a film about Stone, who is set to publish a memoir in 2023.
In it, he revealed some of his demons, including substance abuse and other dark periods in his life that did not reflect Stone in the best light.
“And as part of rock’s first wave of superstars, Sly indulged in just about every excess until they nearly destroyed him,” Variety’s Jem Aswad wrote in her review of the book. “While friends like Muhammad Ali, Doris Day, and George Clinton make cameo appearances during these years, the accounts of his too-high years (included in Joel Selvin’s 1997 Sly-less oral history of the band, as well as multiple articles and documentaries) are filled with accounts of guns, aggressive bodyguards, and even more aggressive attack dogs — one of which, named Gun, Sly himself killed after it badly mauled his son.” He describes the dog as the best friend he is ever had.
Sly and the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
In a statement released on Monday, Stone’s family thanked his fans “from the bottom of our hearts for your unwavering support.”
“We extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers during this difficult time,” the couple wrote. “We wish peace and harmony to all who were touched by Sly’s life and his iconic music.”