Sly Stone dead at 82

According to his family, Sly Stone, the pioneering leader of the funk ensemble that bears his name, Sly and the Family Stone, has passed away. Stone was eighty-two years of age.

"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," his family said in a statement. "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."

Stone, whose actual name was Sylvester Stewart, established a band with his brother Freddie, sisters Loretta and Rose, and sister Rose at a young age. Despite the fact that the band played devotional music, which appears to be a stark contrast to the funk and psychedelia for which he would later become renowned, Sly and the Family Stone would become renowned for their innovative fusion of musical genres.

In his 2023 memoir, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," Sly Stone would respond succinctly when asked how he wished to be remembered: "Music, just music."

"I don't want to get in people's way and I don't want them to get in my way. I just want to play my songs," he said. "I would do it for nothing."

He was born in Texas in 1943, the second oldest of five children. However, his family relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area when he was relatively small. In the early 1960s, he secured employment as a disc jockey, where he performed a wide range of genres, including British rock and soul music.

In 1966, Sly and the Family Stone was established by merging the ensembles of Sly and his brother, Freddie. Sister Rose also became a member of the organization. Loretta declined to pursue music, while her younger sister Vaetta performed in her own ensemble, Little Sister, and occasionally accompanied Sly and the Family Stone on stage.

Although Sly was primarily a guitarist at the time of the band's formation, he permitted Freddie to assume that position in the new group and primarily played the keyboard. Nevertheless, he was widely recognized as a musical prodigy. As a youth, he acquired the skills to play the guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums.

The Family Stone was the first significant American rock ensemble to integrate racial elements.

"A Whole New Thing," the debut album of Sly and the Family Stone, was published in October 1967; however, it garnered only modest attention. The band would ascend to the stratosphere approximately one month later with the publication of the single "Dance to the Music."

"Dance to the Music" achieved its highest position on the Billboard Pop Singles chart at No. 8.

In a rare interview with The Guardian in 2023, Stone disclosed, "I was aware that the music was effective, but I was uncertain as to whether or not it would resonate with the audience." "That is what transpired subsequent to the initial album; I invested my entire being into those compositions." People who were musically inclined appreciated it; however, not everyone was in this category. 'Dance to the Music' was released as a more straightforward rendition, which was more readily comprehensible to the public.

The band, and Sly in particular, rapidly gained recognition for their high-energy, uptempo live performances. The band was one of the most prominent in the world and Sly was a household name by 1969, following the publication of "Stand!" that same year.

The group's inaugural No. 1 single, "Everyday People," and "Hot Fun in the Summertime," which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, were both featured on "Stand!"

The band, and Sly in particular, rapidly gained recognition for their high-energy, uptempo live performances. The band was one of the most prominent in the world and Sly was a household name by 1969, following the publication of "Stand!" that same year.

The group's inaugural No. 1 single, "Everyday People," and "Hot Fun in the Summertime," which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, were both featured on "Stand!"

The band's members performed at the inaugural Woodstock festival in August 1969, at the pinnacle of their popularity. The ensemble took the stage at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, immediately following Janis Joplin and preceding The Who. The group executed an electrifying medley of songs, including "Everyday People," "Dance To The Music," "Music Lover," and "I Want To Take You Higher."

Nevertheless, the band's descent into substance use, finger-pointing, and missed performances occurred shortly thereafter. In his memoir, Sly himself acknowledged that he developed a dependence on PCP and cocaine. In the 1970s, the band released numerous albums that were not widely recognized; however, they were unable to replicate the success of 1969. The same was true for Sly's solo career, which encompassed numerous albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, typically under the Family Stone moniker.

The band's members performed at the inaugural Woodstock festival in August 1969, at the pinnacle of their popularity. The ensemble took the stage at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, immediately following Janis Joplin and preceding The Who. The group executed an electrifying medley of songs, including "Everyday People," "Dance To The Music," "Music Lover," and "I Want To Take You Higher."

Nevertheless, the band's descent into substance use, finger-pointing, and missed performances occurred shortly thereafter. In his memoir, Sly himself acknowledged that he developed a dependence on PCP and cocaine. In the 1970s, the band released numerous albums that were not widely recognized; however, they were unable to replicate the success of 1969. The same was true for Sly's solo career, which encompassed numerous albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, typically under the Family Stone moniker.

"Instead of saying, 'He became an addict,' we wanted to focus more on what events in life make you go there," Questlove stated about the film.

In 2006, Sly made his first live performance in decades at the Grammys and made occasional appearances in the years that followed. In 1993, Sly and the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.