‘Sly Stone was way ahead of the game': Questlove explains the ‘genius' legacy of the late funk-rock master
Sly Stone, funk pioneer and frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, died Monday at the age of 82, following what his family described as 'prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues.'
'It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone,' the family wrote in a statement. '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.'
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The legendary musician was the subject of a recent Hulu documentary, Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), from Oscar-winning director Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson. Questlove recently sat down with Gold Derby and shared stories about Sly Stone, his genius, and his lasting impact on pop culture.
SEE 'A lot comes with jumping into that inferno': Questlove explores the burden of Black genius in 'Sly Lives!'
"Sly was way ahead of the game," Questlove shared. "There are trillions of Sly genius stories."
One such story, ultimately left out of the documentary, highlights Sly's remarkable real-time creativity during an urgent re-edit of 'Stand!' after testing it at Whisky a Go Go in 1969. 'Sly was a little disappointed that people weren't losing their minds to his new single,' Questlove recounts. 'Then, a girl he was with gave him the inspiration, saying, 'It's 1969, man. We need a get-down part.'
"Sly learns that in the wake of James Brown's 'Cold Sweat' in '68, a year before, the idea of letting the bass and the drums have their moment — that was a new thing. It needs to go somewhere else just to spike the punch a little bit.
"Sly literally wakes the band up as the club is letting out at 1:45 a.m. and says, 'Get to the studio now. We made a mistake!' And they get to the studio and they work on what we now know as the ending of 'Stand!,' and he calls up Columbia the next day. He's like, 'Destroy all the 45s. We have a new ending. Forget that version.' They're like, 'We already printed it up.' So there's about 40,000 copies of the original 'Stand!' out there. I was lucky to find one."
Questlove on Sly Stone's innovation: "He literally pioneered — or was the first — for so many things that we take for granted now. He was the first to use the drum machine, the first to take advantage of multitrack recording — doing everything himself. Sly made three whole music videos in 1969. The purpose of a music video was basically — if you were unable to travel to Europe, you would just perform a generic performance video that they would air on television shows overseas. But if you look at 'Dance to the Music', if you look at 'Life,' if you look at 'Everyday People,' those are conceptual videos — and this is like 10 years before MTV was launched."
Generations continue to be inspired and entertained by Sly Stone, whose timeless music has been sampled in countless hip-hop tracks, shaping the genre and leaving a lasting impact. 'For me, my sweet spot was always with the hip-hop heads,' Questlove said. "You might be aware that Arrested Development's 'People Everyday' is [Sly and the Family Stone's] 'Everyday People.' You might recognize the drums from 'The Humpty Dance' as 'Sing a Simple Song.' You might have some sort of hip-hop-adjacent, 'Oh, that LL Cool J loop is definitely Sly Stone.' You might be that person. Hip-hop heads know about Sly Stone's impact."
Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) is streaming on Hulu.
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Sly Stone, Sly and the Family Stone Frontman, Dead at 82
Sly Stone has died. He was 82 The rocker was known for Sly and the Family Stone hits like "Dance to the Music" and "Everyday People" "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 said in a statementSly Stone, the leader of the band Sly and the Family Stone, one of the most influential bands in the development of funk, soul, R&B, rock and psychedelic music, has died. 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 on Monday, June 9. "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." The statement continued, "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," it concluded. Sly and the Family Stone's membership included two of his actual siblings, and they released massive hits like "Dance to the Music,' "Everyday People" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).' However, his drug use and behavior affected the group, which split up for good in the '80s. Sly was born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, in 1943. The family soon moved to California, where Sly began singing in the church choir from the age of 4, alongside his siblings. His nickname Sly came about when a classmate misspelled his name, and once he changed his stage surname from Stewart to Stone, his siblings Freddie and Rose, both of whom joined him in Sly and the Family Stone, did the same. Sly began performing in bands in high school, then went on to study music theory at Solano Community College. By the mid '60s, he had left school to work as a DJ for San Francisco's KSOL, which became known as KSOUL because of its focus on the soul genre. He also worked with many emerging acts. By 1966, Sly had his band, Sly and the Stoners, and Freddie had his, Freddie and the Stone Souls. They decided to join forces. 'The band had a concept — white and Black together, male and female both, and women not just singing but playing instruments,' Stone wrote in his 2023 memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). 'That was a big deal back then, and it was a big deal on purpose.' Sly and the Family Stone began performing together in 1967 and released their debut album, A Whole New Thing, that year. "It was like seeing the Black version of The Beatles,' funk legend George Clinton told CBS in 2023 of Sly and the Family Stone. 'He had the sensibility of the street, the church, and then, like, the qualities of a Motown, you know, Smokey Robinson — he was all of that in one person." 'Dance to the Music,' also released in 1967, was their first hit single. They released their album of the same name the next year. Stand, released in 1969, became their biggest success, with hits like 'Everyday People,' "Hot Fun in the Summertime" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"/"Everybody Is a Star.' They performed at Woodstock that summer. Cynthia Robinson, who played trumpet, recalled to PEOPLE in 1996 about their performance of 'I Want to Take You Higher.' 'It was pouring rain. Freddie got shocked. The equipment was crackling. But Sly was like a preacher. He had half a million people in the palm of his hand.' That same summer, the band also performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival, as documented in Questlove's Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul. However, Sly began to struggle amid heavy drug use. During 1970 and 1971, he missed a third of the band's concerts. In 1974, Sly married Kathy Silva during one of the band's performances at Madison Square Garden. They shared son Sylvester Jr., born a few months before the wedding. Silva told PEOPLE in 1996 of their marriage, 'He beat me, held me captive and wanted me to be in ménages à trois. I didn't want that world of drugs and weirdness.' She continued, 'He'd write me a song or promise to change, and I'd try again. We were always fighting, then getting back together.' But in 1976, his dog bit Sylvester Jr., and Silva divorced him. Sly and Cynthia Robinson shared a daughter, Sylvyette Phunne, born in 1976. He welcomed a third child, Novena, in 1982. Sly and the Family Stone released Greatest Hits in 1970 and There's a Riot Goin' On in 1971, considered one of the most influential albums of all time. But tensions were beginning to boil over in the band. Later albums featured more and more of Stone and less of the rest of the band, and in 1975, they broke up. Sly began working on solo music. "Some people actually believed that I could not finish a project," he told PEOPLE in 1980. "I was pissed off at a lot of things. So much got on my nerves.' His solo efforts were not as successful, and drugs continued to derail his career. In 1983, Sly was arrested for cocaine possession in Florida. He went to rehab in 1996, with Sylvester Jr. telling PEOPLE at the time, 'He went in by choice, to concentrate on getting healthier. He's had problems because he hasn't been able to grow up. He's meant no harm to anyone.' In 1993, Sly and the Family Stone was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but he kept his distance from the rest of the band, only coming on stage at the end of the induction. Sly mostly remained out of the public eye after that. A rare appearance came at the 2006 Grammy Awards, where a tribute to the band was performed — but he left the stage midway through the performance. He appeared on stage with the band at a handful of performances after that. In 2017, he received the Recording Academy's lifetime achievement award. Sly finally got clean in 2019, after his drug use landed him in the hospital four times in a period of a few weeks. The doctor told him drugs would kill him. 'That time, I not only listened to the doctor but believed him,' he told The Guardian in 2023. 'I realized that I needed to clean up. I concentrated on getting strong so that I could get clean. My kids visited me at the hospital. My grandkids visited me. I left with purpose.' In 2023, he released his memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), named after the band's classic 1970 single. In it, he wrote of other people talking about his life: 'They're trying to set the record straight. But a record's not straight, especially when you're not. It's a circle with a spiral inside it. Every time a story is told, it's a test of memory and motive.… It isn't evil, but it isn't good. It's the name of the game, but a shame just the same.' In 2025, Questlove released the documentary Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), which chronicled the musician's rise and fall. Despite his ups and downs, he told The Guardian in 2023, 'I never lived a life I didn't want to live.' In the film, which premiered at Sundance and is now streaming on Hulu, Stone's son and daughters were interviewed, with Carmel demonstrated just how normal things had become for the star since his wild rock star days. She said that when she asked Stone what he wanted to eat for his birthday, all he asked for was a "big pizza with all of the toppings." 'He's also a big fan of Westerns and cars,' she says. 'He's kind of just like, a standard old Black man.' During a recent Q&A screening of the film, producer Joseph Patel explained that he and Questlove opted not to feature Stone on camera in a new interview in the documentary because it didn't 'feel right' given his frail health. "Ahmir's first thing he said was, 'Let's tell this story with a lot of empathy.' That's not empathetic,' Patel said. "We interviewed Sly for [the Oscar-winning documentary] Summer of Soul in 2020. And he had just gotten clean, and he just — he doesn't have the motor function. He can't speak in full sentences. His eyes reveal a precociousness and a lucidity that's there, but his motor function doesn't exist." While the documentary doesn't skip over Stone's decades-long struggle with substance abuse, Questlove said the "most important part" was to present Stone as a person rather than a personality, because "it's rare that Black people get seen as humans." Sly is survived by his children. Read the original article on People
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Sly Stone, 82, dies after 'prolonged battle' with COPD: Signs, symptoms and risk factors
Sly Stone, the funk icon and frontman of the group Sly and the Family Stone, has died. The 82-year-old musician's family confirmed the death of their "beloved dad" following a "prolonged battle" with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and undisclosed "underlying health issues." "Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend and his extended family,' the family's June 9 statement read. '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.' This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, helped pioneer a new sound of funk, pop and rock in the '60s, '70s' and '80s with hits like "Dance to the Music," "Sing a Simple Song" and "Everyday People." Stone and his band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2006. "His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable." the family's statement continued. "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." Stone addressed his health issues in a 2023 interview with The Guardian. 'I have trouble with my lungs, trouble with my voice, trouble with my hearing and trouble with the rest of my body, too,' he said. Stone later added that his ailments, "haven't stopped me from hearing music, but they have stopped me from making it." What is COPD is it something you should worry about when it comes to your own health? Read on to learn more about COPD. COPD is a progressive lung disease that causes airways to become swollen and blocked. It's an umbrella term used to describe various lung conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, according to COPD Canada. In chronic bronchitis, the airways in your lungs become inflamed and narrowed. This means eventually, you will develop more mucus, leading to a persistent cough and difficulty breathing. For emphysema, the disease develops over time and involves the gradual damage of tiny air sacs in your lungs called alveoli. The damage eventually causes these air sacs to rupture, reducing the surface area that lets oxygen move through the bloodstream. The most common symptoms of COPD are difficulty breathing, chronic cough (sometimes with mucus) and feeling tired, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Canadian Lung Association added a person with COPD might also present some of the following symptoms: Feeling short of breath Lung infections (like the flu or pneumonia) that may last longer than they would in others Wheezing Losing weight without trying These symptoms can get worse quickly and may be called flare-ups. "These usually last for a few days and often require additional medicine," WHO stated. COPD develops over time, often as a result of a combination of risk factors, according to the WHO. These may include: Smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke Exposure to dusts, fumes or chemicals in the workplace Indoor air pollution from sources like burning fuel for heat or coal to cook Asthma in childhood Early life events, including poor growth in utero, prematurity or frequent respiratory infections A rare genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency The Canadian Lung Association indicated adults over age 40 who smoke or previously smoked may be at risk of COPD. "It is important to speak to a healthcare provider if you are at risk of COPD, even if you don't have symptoms or have only mild symptoms," the organization stated. "COPD is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse over time." COPD is severely underdiagnosed, according to the health charity. That's because people living with the disease may not show any symptoms, or they link their symptoms to factors like age, a common respiratory infection or a "smoker's cough." Moreover, some people who have stopped smoking may believe they can no longer develop COPD. Historically, COPD was associated with older men who had a history of smoking. While the number of men and women who die of COPD in Canada each year is roughly equal, recent research has indicated COPD is likely underdiagnosed in women. The Canadian Lung Association shared women might also experience more severe symptoms and have earlier disease onset. Finally, over the past two decades, there has been a rising number of COPD hospitalizations for both women in the 40 to 64 age group as well as those older than 65. That's in addition to a decreasing number of hospitalizations in men. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lung Health Foundation (@lunghealthfoundation) In Canada, one in four people will be diagnosed with COPD. There are more than two million Canadians impacted by the disease, and a further one million likely living with the condition unknowingly. COPD is also the second-leading cause of hospitalization in Canada, behind only childbirth. Globally, the WHO has indicated COPD is the third-leading cause of death, causing more than three million deaths in 2019 alone. That year, there were more than 212 million prevalent cases of COPD reported worldwide. There is no cure for COPD. Still, there are ways to improve the condition and possibly slow its progression. Since the majority of COPD cases are related to using cigarettes, it's best to never smoke — or stop smoking now. Moreover, you should speak to your supervisor about protection if you work around occupational exposure to chemical fumes, dusts or anything other elements that may increase your risk for COPD.
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Lady Gaga Praises Queer Music Pioneer Carl Bean in Docu Clip: ‘Anthems Unify People'
Lady Gaga honors queer music icon Carl Bean and the legacy of his 1977 anthem, 'I Was Born This Way' in an exclusive clip from the upcoming documentary I Was Born This Way. In the film, Gaga, Questlove, and Billy Porter are among those who reflect on the song's powerful impact on the LGBTQ community. 'This song is actually the music equivalent of the Giving Tree,' says Questlove, spinning the track on vinyl. More from Rolling Stone Addison Rae's Pop Queen Dreams Are Massive, and Just Out of Reach Timex's New 'Wednesday' Watch Collab Is Worth a Double Round of Snaps How the Director and Stars of 'Pavements' Brought Many Stephen Malkmuses to Life The clip opens with the chart success the song, released on Motown, had in the United States, climbing to Number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, and how it became an 'immediate anthem for the gay community,' embraced by house DJs worldwide. Gaga — who titled her sophomore album after her own Bean-influenced LGBTQ-celebrating anthem, 'Born This Way' — reflects on Bean's legacy. 'This was so much more than just a hit song. When that song stopped charting, they didn't stop playing that song in clubs,' she says. 'And the movement didn't stop.' In the clip, Questlove adds that the track was 'beyond a hit' and one that inspired hope and'revolution.' 'It's an anthem,' he says. 'And anthems never die.' 'Anthems unify people. And they help us to celebrate,' adds Gaga. 'It's people coming together to say, 'This is what we believe in. This is what we care about. We are louder. We are stronger. And we can do it together.'' Bean would eventually leave the music industry, founding the Minority AIDS Project to help underserved populations at the height of the AIDS epidemic and eventually, the first LGBTQ+ ministry called the Unity Fellowship Church. I Was Born This Way has been six years in the making and features Questlove, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Billy Porter as exec producers. Daniel Junge and Sam Pollard direct the film which will premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 5. 'This sequence in the film shows the enduring legacy of Bean's song, and the film demonstrates his lasting influence in so many other surprising ways,' Junge tells Rolling Stone. 'There are so many celebrity bio-docs these days, which I don't disparage — Sam and I have made them — but I think the real joy of documentary is when you are surprised by things you never realized are an important part of our world… hopefully that's what this film does.' 'Not only was his rendition of the song revelatory, but what he did over the decades with his activism for the LGBTQ+ community was both groundbreaking and heartfelt,' Pollard adds. Gaga has long credited Bean — who died in 2021 at age 77 but gave interviews for the film prior to his death — for inspiring Born This Way. Ahead of Pride Month in 2021, she wrote on Twitter: 'Born This Way, my song and album, were inspired by Carl Bean, a gay black religious activist who preached, sung and wrote about being 'Born This Way.' … Thank you for decades of relentless love, bravery, and a reason to sing. So we can all feel joy, because we deserve joy.' { pmcCnx({ settings: { plugins: { pmcAtlasMG: { iabPlcmt: 1, }, pmcCnx: { singleAutoPlay: 'auto' } } }, playerId: "d762a038-c1a2-4e6c-969e-b2f1c9ec6f8a", mediaId: "0eb6519c-7563-415b-88a9-96e46cac48a4", }).render("connatix_player_0eb6519c-7563-415b-88a9-96e46cac48a4_1"); }); Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
