ADVERTISEMENT“Don’t hate the Black
Don’t hate the white
If you get bitten
Just hate the bite.”
Lyrics from ‘Are You Ready’.
Sly Stone, the groundbreaking musician and flamboyant performer behind Sly and the Family Stone, whose music reshaped popular music in the 1960s and ’70s with hits like ‘Dance to the Music’, ‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)’, ‘Everyday People’, ‘Stand!’, ‘I Want To Take You Higher’, and ‘Family Affair’, passed away on Monday at the age of 82.
Stone, originally named Sylvester Stewart, was born in Texas in 1943 and had been in declining health in recent years.
His family confirmed the news in a press statement, noting that he died 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.”
Established in 1966-67, Sly and the Family Stone was the first major group to integrate Black and white men and women, embodying a period when anything seemed possible. The band visualised the turbulences of riots and assassinations, as well as the optimism of communes and love-ins.
The band’s sound was a vibrant mix of frenetic horns, rapid guitar fireworks, and driving rhythms, a fusion of jazz, psychedelic rock, doo-wop, soul, and the nascent beats of funk.
No band better embodied the weightless joy of the Woodstock era or more boldly confronted the societal Apres-movement.
From hopeful early anthems like ‘I Want To Take You Higher’, ‘Stand!’, to the more somber reflections of ‘Family Affair’ and ‘Runnin’ Away’, Sly and the Family Stone provided a voice to their generation, regardless of whether the message was welcomed or not.
The band delivered a remarkable performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and the Summer of Soul concert in Harlem that same year.
Sly was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993 alongside the other founding members of the Family Stone. He returned to the spotlight at the 2005 Grammy Awards but was seen in public only a few times afterward.
