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Los Angeles Times
34 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
A timeline of Sly Stone's career in 10 essential songs
Sly Stone's hit-making era lasted all of six years — from the end of 1967 to the end of 1973 — but the music he made over that half-decade helped map the future. The singer, songwriter, producer and style icon, who died Monday at 82, came up as a DJ in San Francisco before putting together the Family Stone: a multiracial band of men and women that melted the lines between funk, R&B, pop and psychedelic rock. The group's music went on to influence multiple generations of artists, among them Prince, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Outkast and the Roots; as a source of countless samples, Stone's songs represent a crucial part of hip-hop's DNA. Here, in the order they were released, are 10 of his essential recordings. 'Dance to the Music' (1967) Stone is said to have hated his breakout single, which he supposedly made at the behest of Clive Davis after the record exec requested something more commercial than the Family Stone's coolly received debut LP, 'A Whole New Thing.' Six decades later, though, 'Dance to the Music' still communicates a sense of boundless joy — even as it puts across a flicker of doubt about going so nice-and-smiley. Yowls trumpeter Cynthia Robinson in the song's bridge: 'All the squares, go home!' 'Everyday People' (1968)In the pantheon of catchphrases sprung from pop songs, few loom larger than 'Different strokes for different folks,' a perfectly casual bit of come-together sociology from the first of the Family Stone's three Hot 100-topping singles. Also worthy of canonization: Larry Graham's thrumming one-note bass line. Twenty-four years later, Arrested Development put 'Everyday People's' groove back on the charts in its 'People Everyday.' 'Sing a Simple Song' (1968)Funk as pure — and as low-down — as funk gets. 'Stand!' (1969)It's impossible to say too much about Stone's rhythmic innovations. But the title track from his 1969 LP — a platinum-seller enshrined in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry — is perhaps his most impressive harmonic achievement, with a key change in the verse that lends a touch of melancholy to the song's message of protest. 'I Want to Take You Higher' (1969)Issued as the B-side of the 'Stand!' single, this bluesy psych-rock barnburner went on to become the high point of the Family Stone's set at Woodstock: a pummeling barrage of brass and wah-wah delivered at around 4 in the morning. 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)' (1969)Stone's second No. 1 boasts two indelible riffs likely familiar even to listeners born a decade or two after 'Thank You' came out: In 1989, Janet Jackson sampled the song's pulsating guitar lick for 'Rhythm Nation'; in 1995, Brandy borrowed Graham's pioneering slap-bass part for 'Sittin' Up in My Room.' 'Everybody Is a Star' (1969)True to its title, this shimmering midtempo number features strong lead-vocal turns by Stone, Graham and his siblings Rose and Freddie. (That said, Rose Stone all but steals the show.) 'Family Affair' (1971) Stone's 1971 album 'There's a Riot Goin' On' is widely regarded as a turn toward a darker style shaped by the musician's drug use and his political disillusionment. And certainly the dry croak of his singing voice in the LP's lead single suggests he'd enjoyed healthier times. Yet the musical invention at play in 'Family Affair,' which spent three weeks atop the Hot 100 — and helped drive 'Riot' to Stone's only No. 1 showing on Billboard's album chart — makes clear that he hadn't lost his creative drive: It's a startling piece of experimental R&B with Billy Preston on organ, Bobby Womack on guitar and a primitive drum machine coughing up a mutant funk beat. Beautiful if foreboding. 'If You Want Me to Stay' (1973)With Stevie Wonder having supplanted him as soul music's premier visionary, Stone was flailing by the mid-1970s, and not unself-consciously: It's easy to interpret his final Top 20 pop hit as a warning to the record industry that he's prepared to take his ball and go home. ('You can't take me for granted and smile / Count the days I'm gone / Forget reaching me by phone / Because I promise I'll be gone for a while.') Funny — or is it? — how free he sounds. 'Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)' (1973)A churchy rendition of Doris Day's signature song by a man who truly knew too much.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Sly Stone changed modern music
Sly Stone, the legendary multi-instrumentalist who led the groundbreaking hit-machine Sly and the Family Stone, died Monday at 82, his family reported, 'after a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues.' The statement went on to describe the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee as 'a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music' whose 'iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable.' Official statements are often aimed at myth-making, but there's no doubt Stone will be remembered as a towering figure in modern popular music. Not just for the No. 1 singles 'Everyday People,' 'Family Affair' and 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),' but also for the interracial, multigender make-up of the band that performed those songs. With brother Freddie on guitar, sister Rose on vocals and keyboards, Cynthia Robinson on trumpet, Greg Errico on drums, Jerry Martini on saxophone and Larry Graham playing bass and singing, the Family Stone was the first mainstream group featuring Black and white, male and female musicians, and where the women weren't limited to singing but also played instruments. 'There were race riots going on at the time,' Errico told me for Rolling Stone in 2015 of the era when the group was formed. 'Putting a musical group together with male and female and Black and white, to us, it felt really natural and cool and comfortable, but it made a statement that was definitely threatening to some people.' And Stone's stunning fusion of soul and psychedelic rock, with ample helpings of jazz, gospel and Latin, were unlike anything audiences had heard. 'He knew he wanted to mix all of these musical elements,' Errico added, 'and he knew he wanted a mixed-race band.' It led to an early career full of triumphs. He was one of only three musicians from the 1960s — the other two being James Brown and Jimi Hendrix — that Miles Davis listed as an influence. The group's performance before dawn on the second day of Woodstock in 1969, featuring the gospel-inspired '(I Want to Take You) Higher,' is widely celebrated as one of the most legendary moments of the legendary concert. And his 1971 album 'There's a Riot Goin' On,' which reflected the fight for civil rights and Black power set against the waning idealism of the Vietnam generation, was created by Stone almost completely by himself, and is rightly regarded as one of the greatest albums of the last century. 'There were moments that made my hair stand up, where the stage lifted off like a 747 and flew,' Errico told me of the group and the sound its mastermind created. According to Stone's 2023 memoir, in the 1970s, cocaine gradually sapped his creative spirit and eventually his ability to even show up to work. He later developed a relentless crack addiction, and experienced long wilderness years of drug busts and one mental health crisis after another. On top of his drugs and mental health struggles, Stone's scant performances and well-documented difficulties collecting royalties meant that one of the country's musical geniuses spent many of the later years of his life in poverty. Still, his name and his music are more likely to be remembered than the names and music of so many of his contemporaries. That's because Sly and the Family Stone's best songs sound as fresh as the day they were released, not to mention that his music has been sampled almost more than any other artist of the last 60 years. Cue up 1970's 'Woodstock' film or 2022's 'Summer of Soul,' which documented the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, and Sly Stone will be there to astonish you and make you a fan all over again. Or you can dial up your favorite streaming service and search for funk, soul, R&B, or hits from the 1960s or '70s. Or just search 'great live performance footage' on YouTube and you're likely to hear and see Sly and the Family Stone in their incendiary prime. Ultimately, Sly Stone wasn't just one of the first multihyphenate artists to fuse genres in a group that mixed men and women, not to mention races. At the height of his powers, Stone was a Black man at a crisis point in America's history who was a symbol of positivity and inclusivity, which is something we all might do well to reflect on during these dark times. So, the next time you hit the dance floor, whether it's at an underground club or a suburban Bar Mitzvah, you'll no doubt hear a song by Sly and the Family Stone. That's because Sly Stone changed R&B, soul and rock music forever (while helping to invent funk along the way) with a pop music sensibility that few artists have ever even dreamed of. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
No, Sylvester Stallone Isn't Dead — Fans Mistake Sly Stone's Death for Action Star
Panic swept through social media on June 9, 2025, as 'RIP Sylvester Stallone' began trending, leading fans to believe the legendary Rocky and Rambo actor had passed away. But that's not the case. The confusion stemmed from the death of a different 'Sly': the groundbreaking musician Sly Stone. While their names may overlap, their lives and legacies couldn't be more different. No, Sylvester Stallone did not die. The misunderstanding happened after news broke that Sly Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, had died peacefully at the age of 82. Stone, the revolutionary name behind the band Sly and the Family Stone, had battled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for years, his family revealed. The mix-up occurred because both men share the nickname 'Sly,' though their careers never intersected. Stone, raised in Vallejo, California, was a music pioneer known for fusing rock, soul, and other genres while leading one of the most progressive bands of the '60s and '70s. He revolutionized funk and soul music, breaking racial and gender barriers with his band. Their hits, including 'Everyday People' and 'Family Affair,' remain timeless. Stallone, on the other hand, became a Hollywood icon thanks to his role as underdog heroes like Rocky Balboa and John Rambo. Now 78, the actor remains active in entertainment and public life, though he hasn't commented on the mistaken death rumors. That didn't stop fans from clearing things up online. One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, 'Honest to God I thought Sly Stone was just a weird nickname for Sylvester Stallone, but nope, whole other dude.' Furthermore, both of them have vastly different families. Stone's children are musicians and artists like Novena Carmel, Sylvester Stewart, Jr., and Phunne Stone. And Stallone's children are Sage, Sistine, Seargeoh, Sophia, and Scarlet, who are closely tied to Hollywood and the media. So for now, Stallone fans can rest easy as the action star is still going strong at 78. Meanwhile, the music world honors the legacy of Sly Stone, whose songs shaped a generation. The post No, Sylvester Stallone Isn't Dead — Fans Mistake Sly Stone's Death for Action Star appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Pink Villa
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Who Was Sly Stone? All About Sly and the Family Stone Star, His Family And More as Singer Dies at 82
Sylvester Stewart—more commonly known as Sly Stone —died at the age of 82 on Monday, June 9, 2025. The American musician and songwriter is stated to have passed after a prolonged struggle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other underlying health issues. According to the statement released by his family, he slipped away peacefully, with his three children, a close friend and extended relatives by his side. Sly Stone's family and relationships Stone's only legal marriage was to model and actress Kathy Silva. His wedding to Silva is infamous for having been held in a highly publicized on-stage ceremony at Madison Square Garden, before approximately 21,000 fans on June 5, 1974. Their union ended in divorce two years later in 1976, but remained a defining moment in his personal history. From that marriage came his son, Sylvester Stewart Jr., born in 1973. Beyond his marriage, Stone fathered two daughters: Sylvetta Stewart, his child with trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, and Novena Carmel, whose mother is Deborah King, daughter of blues legend B.B. King. Sly Stone's career and final projects As the creative force behind Sly and the Family Stone, Sly Stone transformed the music of his time by blending genres as well as promoting racial and gender integration within his band. Hits such as 'Everyday People,' 'Stand!' and 'Family Affair' shaped the funk and rock genres of the late 1960s and early '70s. Despite his impressive rise and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, Stone struggled with drug abuse and personal struggles, leading to a decline in his career by the early 1980s. Despite years of public turmoil, Stone's influence has endured across multiple music genres. In recent years, Stone completed a screenplay chronicling his own life story shortly before his death—a project his family plans to present to the public 'in due course.' As per Celebrity Net Worth, his estate was estimated at approximately $500,000 as of 2024. As his family affirmed, the rhythms and messages he created will continue 'to resonate and inspire for generations to come.'
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Funk-rock musician Sly Stone passes away at 82: All about his family, net worth, and more
Sly Stone, the funk-rock star, passed away at the age of 82, after battling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health issues. He died on June 9, 2025, and was surrounded by family. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Who was Sly Stone? Born on March 15, 1943, in Dexton, Texas, Sly Stone (Slyvester Stewart) and his family soon moved to Vallejo, California. Reared in church music, he made a gospel with his other 3 siblings called 'The Stewart Four' when he was just 8 years old. At 11 years old, Stone was adept at keyboards, guitar, bass and drums. Soon, in the 1960s and 1970s, Sly rose to stardom after becoming a DJ in San Francisco. He started his career at radio stations, then formed a band 'Sly and the Family Stone,' which included his brother. While he was known for his gospels, the star started blending music styles, including psychedelia and funk. Sly Stone's family Sly Stone had tied the knot with the famed model and actress, Kathy Silva, with whom he exchanged vows on the stage of the packed concert with 21,000 fans at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 5, 1974. However, they got divorced in 1976, and shared a son, Sylvester Stewart Jr., who was born in 1973. Stone has two daughters, Slyvetta Stewart and Novena Carmel, from relationships with the Sly and Family Stone trumpeter Cynthia Robinson and Deborah King, the daughter of blues musician B.B. King. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sly Stone's net worth was estimated to be around $500,000 in 2024. The statement given by the family Sly Stone's family released a statement about his passing: '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 Stone's records made it to the charts, and topped the lists, including 'Everyday People,' 'Hot Fun in the Summertime,' 'Runnin' Away,' 'If You Want Me to Stay,' 'Stand!' and 'Family Affair.'
