Sly Stone, the funk pioneer famed for fronting Sly and the Family Stone, has died at the age of 82.
The news was confirmed by his family in a press statement, who said he passed away peacefully after “a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues”.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone,” the statement read. “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.
“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.”
Born Sylvester Stewart in Texas in 1943 and raised in the Bay Area of California, he performed gospel music from an early age with his siblings (and future bandmates) Freddie and Rose. He acquired the nickname ‘Sly’ in school, a play on the shortened version of his name ‘Syl’, and in high school grew to master the keyboard, guitar, bass and drums.
After working as a record producer and DJ, he formed Sly and the Family Stone – a racially-integrated, mixed gender group – in 1966. Some of their biggest hits included ‘Dance to the Music’, ‘Everyday People’, ‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)’, ‘I Want to Take You Higher’, ‘Family Affair’ and ‘If You Want Me To Stay’. The band was pivotal in the development of funk music, also blending styles including soul, psychedelia and rock.
Stone’s drug abuse and erratic behaviour effectively brought the group to an end in the mid-1970s. He went on to record several largely unsuccessful solo albums, but later collaborated with acts including Parliament Funkadelic, Bobby Womack and Jesse Johnson. Stone largely remained out of the spotlight throughout the ’80s and ’90s but was in trouble with the law every so often for charges related to possession of drugs and weapons.
He was inducted into the Rock N& Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993 with the other founding members of the Family Stone. The musician would not perform again until 2006, when he made a stellar appearance at the Grammys performing a medley of Family Stone hits alongside some of his old bandmates and the likes of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, as well as John Legend. He intermittently attempted to perform again in his later years but the performances were marred by his frequent lateness.
His memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) was published in 2023 and featured contributions from Questlove.
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