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Reuters
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Sly Stone, leader of 1960s funk band, dies at age 82
June 9 (Reuters) - Sly Stone, the driving force behind Sly and the Family Stone, a multiracial American band whose boiling mix of rock, soul and psychedelia embodied 1960s idealism and helped popularize funk music, has died at the age of 82, his family said on Monday. Stone died after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health issues, a statement from his family said. "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 said. Stone was perhaps best known for his performance in 1969 at the historic Woodstock music festival, the hippie culture's coming-out party. His group was a regular on the U.S. music charts in the late 1960s and 1970s, with hits such as "Dance to the Music," "I Want to Take You Higher," "Family Affair," "Everyday People," "If You Want Me to Stay," and "Hot Fun in the Summertime." But he later fell on hard times and became addicted to cocaine, never staging a successful comeback. The confident and mercurial Stone played a leading role in introducing funk, an Afrocentric style of music driven by grooves and syncopated rhythms, to a broader audience. James Brown had forged the elements of funk before Stone founded his band in 1966, but Stone's brand of funk drew new listeners. It was celebratory, eclectic, psychedelic and rooted in the counterculture of the late 1960s. "They had the clarity of Motown but the volume of Jimi Hendrix or The Who," Parliament-Funkadelic frontman George Clinton, a contemporary of Stone and another pioneering figure in funk, once wrote. When Sly and the Family Stone performed, it felt like the band was "speaking to you personally," Clinton said. Stone made his California-based band, which included his brother Freddie and sister Rose, a symbol of integration. It included Black and white musicians, while women, including the late trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, had prominent roles. That was rare in a music industry often segregated along racial and gender lines. Stone, with his orb-like Afro hairstyle and wardrobe of vests, fringes and skin-tight leather, lived the life of a superstar. At the same time, he allowed bandmates to shine by fostering a collaborative, free-flowing approach that epitomized the 1960s hippie ethic. "I wanted to be able for everyone to get a chance to sweat," he told Rolling Stone magazine in 1970. Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, he moved as a child with his family to Northern California, where his father ran a janitorial business. He took the show business name Sly Stone and worked for a time as a radio disc jockey and a record producer for a small label before forming the band. The band's breakthrough came in 1968, when the title track to their second album, "Dance to the Music," cracked the Top 10. A year later, Sly and the Family Stone performed at Woodstock before dawn. Stone woke up a crowd of 400,000 people at the music festival, leading them in call-and-response style singing. Stone's music became less joyous after the idealistic 1960s, reflecting the polarization of the country after opposition to the Vietnam War and racial tensions triggered unrest on college campuses and in African American neighborhoods in big U.S. cities. In 1971, Sly and the Family Stone released "There's a Riot Goin' On," which became the band's only No. 1 album. Critics said the album's bleak tone and slurred vocals denoted the increasing hold of cocaine on Stone. But some called the record a masterpiece, a eulogy to the 1960s. In the early 1970s, Stone became erratic and missed shows. Some members left the band. But the singer was still a big enough star in 1974 to attract a crowd of 21,000 for his wedding to actress and model Kathy Silva at Madison Square Garden in New York. Silva filed for divorce less than a year later. Sly and the Family Stone's album releases in the late 1970s and early 1980s flopped, as Stone racked up drug possession arrests. But the music helped shape disco and, years later, hip-hop artists kept the band's legacy alive by frequently sampling its musical hooks. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and Stone was celebrated in an all-star tribute at the Grammy Awards in 2006. He sauntered on stage with a blond Mohawk but bewildered the audience by leaving mid-song. In 2011, after launching what would become a years-long legal battle to claim royalties he said were stolen, Stone was arrested for cocaine possession. That year, media reported Stone was living in a recreational vehicle parked on a street in South Los Angeles. Stone had a son, Sylvester, with Silva. He had two daughters, Novena Carmel, and Sylvette "Phunne" Stone, whose mother was bandmate Cynthia Robinson.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Sly Stone, Sly and the Family Stone frontman, dead at 82
Sly Stone, frontman of the influential funk band Sly and the Family Stone, has passed away. He was 82. Stone's family announced the iconic musician's passing on Monday, June 9, via a statement to USA Today. 'It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone,' the statement began. 'After a prolonged battle with [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.' '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 'Everyday People' singer's family continued. 'Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music,' they added. 'His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable.' Stone's family revealed that the beloved 'Dance to the Music' singer had 'completed the screenplay for his life story' shortly before his passing and that the project will be 'shared with the world in due course.' '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,' they said. His family then thanked the songwriter's fans for the 'outpouring of love and prayers' they have received in the wake of Stone's heartbreaking passing. 'We extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers during this difficult time,' the statement concluded. '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.' Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, in 1943, Stone and his brother, Freddie, formed Sly and the Family Stone in 1966. The band also included their sister, Rose Stone. Sly and the Family Stone achieved widespread fame in 1968 with the release of their first hit single, 'Dance to the Music.' Stone's influence on pop, funk, and rock music was solidified in 1969 with the release of the band's album 'Stand!' and the hit single 'Everyday People.'
CBS News
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Sly Stone, Sly and the Family Stone frontman, dies at 82
Sly Stone, the funk music pioneer and frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, has died at the age of 82, his manger, Arlene Hirschkowitz, confirmed to CBS News. Despite keeping his personal life mostly out of the public eye, Stone became one of the most influential musicians of the late 1960s and 70s with hits like "Everyday People," "Dance to the Music," "Hot Fun in the Summertime." Sly Stone of Sly And The Family Stone performs on stage in July 1974 in Los Angeles, United States. Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns In 2023, the music legend let fans get a rare look into his world by releasing a memoir titled "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" — also the title of one of his greatest hits. The book, co-written with music journalist Ben Greenman, detailed his revolutionary music style and also the addictions which took him out of the spotlight. Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, Stone's family moved to Vallejo, California, when he was young — and music was always with him. "My father played washboard, guitar, violin, fiddle, harmonica. My mother played keyboards and guitar. Music was as much a part of our home as the walls or the floor," Stone wrote in his memoir. "The piano was as prominent as the kitchen table." He went on to study music composition at a junior college while working as a radio DJ. Sly and the Family Stone was formed in March 1967, and the band quickly made its way up the charts in the winter of 1968 with "Dance To the Music," which was later chosen for the Grammy Hall Of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock." Every composition of the band was penned by Stone. This is a developing story and will be updated.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sly Stone dead at 82 after long health battle as family mourns Sly and the Family Stone singer as ‘true pioneer'
MUSIC legend Sly Stone, frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, has passed away at the age of 82, The U.S. Sun has learned. The musician's death comes after a 'prolonged battle' with COPD, otherwise known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, as well as struggles with 'other underlying health issues.' 3 In a statement sent to The U.S. Sun, a rep for the pioneer of funk music said on behalf of his family: '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.' 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.' Sly and the Family Stone formed as a funk band in San Francisco in 1966. The group would go on to be pivotal in the development of not only funk music, but also soul, R&B, rock, and psychedelic tunes up until they disbanded in 1983. During their 20 years as a band, Sly and the Family Stone included two of Sly's actual siblings, his brother Freddie Stone, sister and singer/keyboardist Rose Stone. They created huge hits like Dance to the Music, Everyday People and Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). However, his substance abuse and concerning behavior heavily impacted the group, which split up for a final time in the 1980s. Sly, who's full name is Sylvester Stewart, was born in Denton, Texas, in 1943. His family soon moved to Northern California, where the youngster began singing in his church choir alongside his siblings from the age of 4. The star got his nickname, Sly, from elementary school classmates who misspelled his name. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. 3
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sly Stone dead at 82: Sly And The Family Stone frontman passes away as cause of death is revealed
1960s funk legend Sly Stone - frontman of Sly And The Family Stone - has passed away at 82. Stone's family announced the influential musician's death in a statement released Monday. They revealed that he had a prolonged battle with Chronic Obstructed Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and had other underlying health issues. The artist's family wrote: '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.' His band Sly And The Family Stone is credited as one of the most influential bands in the development of funk, soul, R&B, rock and psychedelic music. 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.'
