The legendary singer, songwriter, and musician Sly Stone has died due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health issues. The leader of Sly and the Family Stone was 82 years old. Find a statement from Stone’s family below.
Sly Stone was born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, and he was raised in Vallejo, California. He ventured into the world of music when he worked as a disc jockey, in the 1960s, at San Francisco’s KSOL. He soon formed Sly and the Stoners, the band that morphed into the iconic Sly and the Family Stone.
Stone formed Sly and the Family Stone with three of his younger siblings, the singer and guitarist Freddie, singer and keyboardist Rose, and background singer Vet. They were joined in the band by bassist and vocalist Larry Graham, saxophonist Jerry Martini, trumpeter, Cynthia Robinson, and drummer Greg Errico.
Sly and the Family Stone were known for wearing flamboyant stage attire, as well as their adventurous blend of funk, R&B, soul, and Motown arrangements. Their music tackled a range of subject matter; from free-spirited dance tracks to songs confronting discrimination and political unrest.
Sly and the Family Stone released their first album, A Whole New Thing, in 1967. Several essential records—including Dance to the Music, the 1971 masterpiece There’s a Riot Goin’ On, and Fresh—followed before the original lineup released its last album, Small Talk, in 1974. The next year, Sly Stone released his debut solo album, High on You, which still featured a number of his Family Stone bandmates. Sly and the Family Stone released their final album, Ain’t but the One Way, in 1982.
Following the dissolution of his band, Sly Stone grew more reclusive, although he did attend the group’s 1993 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Later, in 2006, Stone gave his first public performance since 1987 at the 2006 Grammy Awards as part of a Family Stone tribute.
In recent years, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson released his documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius). Additionally, Stone released his memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). Soon, High Moon Records will release The First Family: Live at the Winchester Cathedral 1967, an album capturing Sly and the Family Stone’s earliest known concert recording.
Statement From the Family of Sly Stone:
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.