R.I.P. Sly Stone

The multi-genre legend that took us higher and let everyday people all dance to the music, has passed–

Sly Stone, the hugely influential, socially conscious, eccentric and often troubled singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who had numerous hits on multiple genre charts during the late 1960’s and early ’70s with his band the Family Stone, passed away at the age of 82 in Los Angeles.

Cause of death according to a statement from his representatives was “a prolonged battle with C.O.P.D.” lung disease, “and other underlying health issues”, all of which worsened in recent years.

A true musical pioneer, Stone redefined the boundaries of pop, rock, soul, funk, R&B, and even gospel, putting together a very diverse collective of multi-racial, mixed gender band, that helped widen the musical freedom that was being explored during those world-changing times.

Sly and the Family Stone’s biggest hits included “Everyday People,” “Dance to the Music,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Family Affair,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin);” each of which and more, would be heavily sampled and musically given homage to, by those who would follow as musicians.

Aka Sylvester Stewart was born in the middle of World War II in Denton, TX to a deeply religious couple (though they did encourage musical expression) as part of their five overall children, and the family soon would soon move to the North Bay area, near San Francisco.

He was quickly recognized as a musical prodigy, mastering multiple instruments before becoming a teenager and joined bands in high school, notably doo-wop group TheViscaynes, who would release a few local singles (as would Stone solo, under the name “Danny Stewart”).

Following, he would work as a soul radio DJ and staff producer for area label Autumn Records and played keyboards for a growing list of A-list names. By 1966, he was playing regularly with his own band, Sly and the Stoners, a precursor to his famous lineup as he added members that he saw fit, no matter their gender, race, or backgrounds.

Debut album A Whole New Thing was released in 1967, but gained little notice, though their initial hit single, “Dance to the Music” would soon follow, and become the title of the follow-up album, released the next year. Also in 1968, they would play a medley on the most-prized slot in television, “The Ed Sullivan Show” and further cement their reputation with sets at the following year’s Newport Jazz Festival, the Summer of Soul concerts in Harlem (recently unearthed and restored on film by The Roots’ Questlove), and of course, at Woodstock.

Like Marvin Gaye and other contemporaries, the albums that followed- “Life,” “Stand!” and “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” each had a feeling of joyous musical freedom but also reflected the undertones of a social consciousness and fragile state of the country and world, as an overseas war, racial injustice, and other turbulent issues, raged with regularity.

As the 70’s continued, his sales slowed, and drug use increased, and the band would finally end things in January 1975 after some erratic touring and a disastrous Radio City Music Hall gig. Members, including Sly, went off to solo careers and other projects, including his assembling a new Family Stone and collaborations with George Clinton, but none had much commercial success. A handful of songs would appear on various soundtracks or as guest appearances, and his occasional troubles with the law would continue.

The band was rightfully inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame early, in 1993, and Sly would appear for that, only to mostly disappear out of the public eye until the mid-2000’s. Legal fighting with his former management, and previous financial recklessness had left Stone basically homeless, though we’d all see him again in a puzzling 2006 Grammy Awards performance.

We remember Stone’s attempted comeback in the late 2000s and scheduling a spendy late First Avenue appearance in Minneapolis (which would cancel due to “scheduling conflicts”), but his erratic behavior, late starts, short directionless sets and walk outs, continued to tarnish his legacy. In more recent times, he released a memoir, had a documentary made about him (and another more recent one, “Sly Lives! [aka the Burden of Black Genius]” again directed by Questlove) and supposedly finished a screenplay about his life.

Stone would influence so many of his peers and those who followed, including George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson, Outkast, Red Hot Chili Peppers and D’Angelo, and multiple hip-hop stars, as well as established jazz musicians like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. He leaves behind three children and generations of fans.