Sly Stone Dead at 82
Sly Stone, the groundbreaking funk and psych-rock pioneer who led the iconic Sly and the Family Stone group in the 1960s into the early 1980s, died Monday (June 9), according to a statement from his family. He was 82.
Stone, the guitar player, multi-instrumentalist, singer, lead songwriter and producer for the group, was known for such iconic hits as 'Dance To The Music,' 'Everyday People,' 'Family Affair' and 'I Want to Take You Higher.' The group's 1971 album There's A Riot Goin' On is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential albums of all time, while its 1969 album Stand! is also widely considered a masterpiece.
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According to his family, Stone suffered from 'a prolonged battle with COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and other underlying health issues.' He had largely disappeared from public life by the 1990s, amid a career decline exacerbated by drug use. He and the band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, and Stone appeared at the Grammy Awards ceremony in 2006 for a tribute to the group, which was his first public performance in nearly two decades. He was also the subject of the 2025 documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), helmed by Questlove, and had released a memoir two years ago.
Beginning with 'Dance To The Music' in 1968, which peaked at No. 8 on the chart, Sly and the Family Stone racked up 17 Hot 100 hits, including five top 10s and three number ones: 'Everyday People,' which reigned for four weeks in 1968-1969; 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),' which led for two weeks in 1970; and 'Family Affair,' which led for three weeks in 1971. The group also had nine albums reach the Billboard 200, including Riot, which spent two weeks at No. 1 in 1971.
Sly and the Family Stone released its first album, A Whole New Thing, in 1967, and would go on to release 10 official studio albums through 1982, and a greatest hits compilation in 1970. The classic incarnation of the band — singer/guitarist Freddie Stone, singer/keyboardist Rose Stone, bassist Larry Graham, drummer Greg Errico, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson and saxophone player Jerry Martini — was in place from the mid 1960s through the early-mid 1970s, and was groundbreaking not just for their musical prowess, but as the first prominent American group to be both racially integrated and mixed gender. By 1975, the group had largely disbanded, though Sly continued to release albums through the early 1980s.
Stone's work had a profound effect on American rock music, particularly psychedelic rock, and, along with George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic groups, helped to pioneer the guitar-driven, socially-conscious funk music that would become a major part of the 1970s music scene. Alongside Clinton, James Brown and Prince, he's among the most important figures in funk music history, and his sound is among the influential records that underpinned much of early hip-hop music into the 1990s, influencing everyone from Dr. Dre to 2pac to The Notorious B.I.G. to OutKast and nearly everyone in between. On the popular WhoSampled site that tracks samples, covers and interpolations throughout music history, Sly and the Family Stone is credited as having been sampled more than 1,000 times.
Born in Dallas in March of 1943 as Sylvester Stewart and raised in the Bay Area, Stone, his brother Freddie and his sisters Rose and Loretta began performing in vocal groups in the 1950s, and in the 1960s Sly became a DJ at the San Francisco-based KSOL and began producing for and playing with other groups. By 1966, Sly and Freddie combined their two separate bands into the Family Stone, beginning the run that would cement them in music history. They were known for their dynamic live shows, captured in several recently-released live albums through longtime label Epic Records.
Stone has three children: a son, Sylvester, Jr.; and two daughters, Sylvyette Phunne and Novena.
Read the full note from Stone's family below.
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone. 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. 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.
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.
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.
Ed. Note: this is a developing story.
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