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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
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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
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sly Stone's Family Reveals the Music Icon's Private Health Battle After His Death at 82
Sly Stone died at age 82, his family announced in a statement on Monday, June 9 According to Sly's relatives, his death came after "a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues" The rocker struggled with drug use throughout his lifeSly Stone dealt with health issues privately throughout the end of his life. The Sly and the Family Stone leader's family announced his death at age 82 in a statement on Monday, June 9 and revealed he struggled with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and other medical conditions. "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," wrote the family. According to the Mayo Clinic, COPD is an "ongoing lung condition caused by damage to the lungs" and results in inflammation "inside the airways that limit airflow into and out of the lungs." Stone's family did not specify his "other underlying health issues." "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," continued the statement. "Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music," added the family. "His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable." Sly and the Family Stone also featured two of his actual siblings, Freddie and Rose. They released hits like "Dance to the Music,' "Everyday People" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).' However, Sly's drug use and behavior affected the group, which split up for good in the 1980s. In 1983, he was arrested for cocaine possession in Florida. He went to rehab in 1996. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Sly quit drugs in 2019, after his use landed him in the hospital four times in a period of a few weeks. A doctor said 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 February, Questlove released the documentary Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) about the musician's rise and fall. At a Q&A screening of the film the same month, producer Joseph Patel explained he and Questlove chose not to feature Sly on camera 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." The producer continued at the time, "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." If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. Read the original article on People
Boston Globe
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
‘SLY LIVES!' asks: What is the burden of Black genius?
As Questlove parades a litany of famous songwriters, producers, and musicians before us in the film's opening montage, we get a brief primer on why his subject was so integral to music. 'It can't be overstated how massively popular they were,' we're told of the band. Stone was also the first songwriter to use a drum machine in a hit song, 'Family Affair.' He wrote music that was classified as R&B, soul, psychedelic, funk, and rock. Sometimes a song was all of those genres at once. You probably know the band's hits, either in their original form or as samples for too many rap songs to mention. LL Cool J famously opens 'I'm Gonna Knock You Out' with a Sly & the Family Stone sample. 'Everyday People,' 'Stand,' and 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)' became beloved anthems. The Advertisement Without Sly & the Family Stone, there would be no Prince and the Revolution, a notion seconded by fellow Minnesotans and Prince protégés Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. You can hear Stone's influence in Prince's music, plus both men played multiple instruments and wrote all their songs. Jam and Lewis are just two of the many talking heads the film interviews. Members of Sly & the Family Stone are also interviewed, looking much older than they do in the bounty of clips from nearly 60 years ago. The band members speak highly of their leader but also truthfully. Their tone is a mixture of love, exasperation, pain, and joy. Advertisement Director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and producer Joseph Patel. 'SLY LIVES! (a.k.a. The Burden of Black Genius)' examines the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone. Disney/Kelsey McNeal In addition to sounding great, 'SLY LIVES!' is superbly edited by Joshua L. Pearson. When you have a fellow musician and mix master like Questlove at the helm, every clip is perfectly selected; every song and sample feels part of a bigger thematic whole. Additionally, since this is a film by someone who understands how to make music, we get more than just platitudes. People like Chic's Nile Rodgers discuss how songs are crafted, and the unusual ways Stone incorporated instruments and hooks into his compositions. But all is not sunshine and flowers and hippies writhing around at Woodstock (where Sly & the Family Stone played). This is a darker film than 'Summer of Soul,' one that quickly puts us on notice. After that exhilarating and complementary montage introduces the film, Questlove presents archival footage of Sly Stone being interviewed — and it's like a kick in the gut. With the camera pointed at Stone, his interviewer says, 'There are guys and girls all over this country trying to get to the top, and you get there. And you blow it .' Immediately, you see the joy leave Stone's face. It's brutal, but it's also not untrue. Stone's own demons eventually led to drugs, run-ins with the law, and the demise of the band. If you were around for Sly & the Family Stone's Advertisement So what happened? Questlove has a theory that's summed up in his title's parenthetical aside. He presents this theory to his interview subjects. 'For Black artists in America, success can be more frightening than failure,' he says. 'The world's watching you … and I think that Sly was kind of the first Black artist to go through that publicly.' 'A burden came with his genius.' From there, 'SLY LIVES!' becomes an exploration of what 'Black genius' is, and why it may be a double-edged sword. And it's here where the film slightly disappoints — because we never get a definitive answer. Everyone has difficulty pinpointing the exact definition. I don't think I was expecting a conclusive argument, to be honest, but the creative part of me held out hope that I'd get one. Blackness forces your skillset to be held up as an example, whether you want it or not. We are not a monolith, but damn if we're not often judged as one. Perhaps Andre 3000 sums it up best when he basically says we'll know Black genius when we see it. 'SLY LIVES!' not only lets you see that genius, it also lets you hear it in the music of Sly & the Family Stone. And since this movie is streaming on Hulu, you can sing along and dance with impunity from the privacy of your own home. ★★★½ SLY LIVES! Directed by Questlove. On Hulu starting Thursday. 110 minutes. Unrated (profanity) Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
