Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart) frontman, singer, songwriter and producer of the family group, Sly & the Family Stone, died in Los Angeles on Monday, June 9. He had been battling lung disease, according to a statement from his family. He was 82.
The statement said: “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.”
With their mix of soul, R&B and psychedelic rock Sly and the Family Stone pioneered 1970s funk sound alongside James Brown, The Meters and others and became one of the most influential bands in history.
The group’s hits include ‘Everyday People’, ‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)’ and ‘Family Affair ‘ (all No.1 hits) along with ‘Dance to the Music’, ‘I Want to Take You Higher’, ‘Hot Fun in the Summertime’ The 1971 album There’s a Riot Goin’ On, regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, was a contrast to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On in its attitude towards civil rights at the time.
Born in 1943 Sylvester Stewart was the second of five children. When he was a child his family moved from Denton, Texas to Vallejo, California and he got his first experience in music through the Church of God In Christ, at the age of 8 recording gospel music with his siblings, Freddie, Rose and Vaetta.
By the time he was in high school he had learned keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums and he formed a multi-racial doo-wop group, The Viscaynes, which recorded several singles in Los Angeles.
After high school Stewart was a successful disc jockey for KSOL California, and became a record producer for Autumn Records. He produced Bobby Freeman’s No.5 hit ‘C’mon and Swim,’ in 1964 and worked with Grace Slick in producing Great Society.
In 1966 Stewart and his brother Freddie formed Sly & the Family Stone, a multiracial and mixed gender band. Their breakthrough came with ‘Dance to the Music’ and by 1969 had released their fourth album Stand! That same year they provided one of the highlights of the Woodstock festival with a spectacular performance.
However, the 70s began to see Stewart’s career decline as he became addicted to drugs and by the 80s, he had become a recluse, only occasionally performing with the Family Stone.
Stewart appeared at the Grammys in 2006 for a tribute to him and his band and the Grammys gave him a lifetime achievement award in 2017. In 2015 he was awarded US$5 million in a lawsuit to recoup royalties.
Stewart’s memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), was published in 2023 while the documentary Sly Lives! The Burden of Black Genius was released earlier this year.