Funk music pioneer Sly Stone, front man of the group Sly and the Family Stone, has passed away. He was 82 years old.
“After a prolonged battle with COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] 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.”
His family called him ” 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.”
According to People magazine, his family revealed that just prior to his death, he completed a screenplay of his life story and it’s “a project we are eager to share with the world in due course, which follows a memoir published in 2024.”
Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, he grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area town of Vallejo. As a child, he performed gospel music in church alongside his brother Freddie and sisters Rose and Loretta.
The musical prodigy mastered the guitar, bass, drums and keyboard by the time he was just 11 years old.
In the mid-’60s, he worked as a DJ at the San Francisco soul radio station KSOL-AM.
In 1967, he formed the band Sly and the Family Stone with Freddie and Rose, along with Cynthia Robinson, Greg Errico, Jerry Martini and Larry Graham. They were the first major American rock group that was mixed-gender and racially integrated. They’re best known for hits like “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” “Family Affair” and many more. They disbanded in the mid-’70s, citing Stone’s heavy drug use.
The band is touted as being the pioneers of the late ’60s early ’70s funk era of music, which combined soul, rock, psychedelia and gospel.
In 1993, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the 2000s, the band took part in various tributes.
“We extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers during this difficult time. We wish peace and harmony to all who were touched by Sly’s life and his iconic music. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your unwavering support,” his family’s statement concluded.
Stone is survived by his three children: Sylvester Jr., Sylvyette and Novena Carmel.
