In the year following the assassinations of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, America was in a constant state of unrest.
But then a Bay Area band took the stage at Woodstock as a visual and musical interpretation of King’s “beloved community.” The lead singer wore a larger-than-life afro with matching mutton chops. He was backed by musicians of different races and genders that captivated the audience from their first note. Sly and The Family Stone’s eclectic sound – with a message of love and unity – struck a chord with the entire world. Their lyrics, often with the underlying theme of the common threads among humanity, were as captivating as their groundbreaking instrumentations that transcended genre.
“I Am Everyday People,” is a prime example.
Sly Stone, the brainchild behind the group that bore his name – and the genius behind their musical footprint, passed away on Monday, June 9. He was 82. His family released an official statement announcing his death after a lengthy health battle.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone,” read a statement they shared with USA TODAY on June 9. “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.”
Stone had only recently emerged from a years-long self-imposed seclusion from the industry following the release of the Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.
The film documented Stone’s six decades in the public eye as a musical genius and pioneer, his complicated personal and family dynamics and the demons that ultimately lured him out of the spotlight.
His struggles were a cautionary tale, but a mere footnote in the story of a man who reconfigured popular music as he left an indelible mark on soul and R&B – and provided a blueprint for funk.
He was born Sylvester Stewart on March 14, 1943, in Denton, Texas. Thanks to the Great Migration, he grew up in the suburbs of San Francisco. Stone was the second of five children born into a devout Church of God In Christ household – a denomination that includes music as a cornerstone of their faith. Stone was considered a musical prodigy. As a child, he and several siblings recorded gospel music under the name “The Steward Four.” He began joining area bands while still in high school. After a stint as a popular local DJ, he dived into making his own music and formed the now iconic group back in 1966. The Family Stone was exactly that – among their core lineup was brother Freddie Stone and sister Rose Stone, who each played several instruments and bonded as siblings through the creation of music. The group also featured trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, drummer Greg Errico, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and bassist Larry Graham – who was a musical and spiritual mentor to Prince and is the uncle of rap star Drake. The band is widely considered to be the first major American rock group to have a racially integrated, mixed-gender lineup.
By 1967, they were signed to Epic records, who released their hit single “Dance To The Music,” which guides listeners through the composition of the song by adding vocal and instrumental sounds over the duration of the tune.
Fueled by their Woodstock performance – and The Harlem Cultural Festival a few weeks prior – their fourth studio album “Stand!” went on to be a commercial and critical hit. And Sly and The Family Stone shifted the culture through music with classic tunes such as “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Stand!,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and the Black cookout classic “Family Affair.”
Following the peak of their critical and commercial success in the early to mid-1970s, Sly and The Family Stone became a revolving door of musicians. Twenty members came and went before the group finally disbanded in 1983.
A decade later, they shared the stage once more when a rarely seen Sly Stone joined them for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 1993.
He surprised audiences again in 2005 when he took part in a Grammy tribute that honored the band’s contributions to music.
Stone was the subject of Willem Alkema’s 2009 documentary entitled “Coming Back for More.”
Two years before Thompson completed “Sly Lives!,” he wrote the forward for Stone’s memoir, “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”
Stone and his band’s musical influence have extended well beyond the years they played together. Partly because they provided the blueprints for funk and psychedelic soul – and because their music has been a go-to sample for hip hop artists since the art form’s inception more than 50 years ago.
“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,” Stone’s family said.
My husband had COPD programme about 4 months ago. he sleeps soundly, works out frequently and breathes better, he is now very active. It doesn’t make the COPD go away but it did give him better quality of life. we got the treatment from uine health centre