Sly Stone of Sly and The Family Stone, dead at 82

Sly Stone, funk, soul and pop iconoclast, has died at age 82. His family shared a statement:

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone. 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 in Denton, TX in 1943, Sly moved to the Bay Area as a child where he became a musical prodigy. Music ran in his family and his siblings Freddie and Rose were no slouches either. By the early ’60s Sly was both a record producer and a radio DJ, and by the mid-’60s was brought into San Francisco’s psychedelic scene. In 1964 he and Freddie and Rosie formed Sly and the Family Stone and are generally regarded as the first major racial integrated, mixed gender rock band.

Sly and the Family Stone released their debut album, A Whole New Thing, in 1967 and later that year scored their first Top 10 hit with Dance to the Music which would be the title track to their second album. The band scored three #1 singles in the US — “Everyday People,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” and “Family Affair” — and also had hits with “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Stand!,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Runnin’ Away,” “If You Want Me to Stay” and “Time for Livin’.” Their 1971 album There’s a Riot Goin’ On also went to #1. Their records got darker and their live shows more erratic as the ’70s rolled on and the group disbanded in 1983, with Sly’s drug problems took him off the stage in the late ’80s. He was mostly out of the public eye till the mid-’00s when he staged a shortlived comeback.

During his heyday, almost no none fused rock, funk, soul, pop and psychedelia as innovatively and enjoyably as Sly and the Family Stone. He was truly one of a kind.

Watch a few classic live performances below. You can also watch new documentary Sly Lives! on Hulu (trailer is below).

Related: last week it was announced that the earliest known live recording of Sly and the Family Stone would be released as a live album titled The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967 on July 18. Watch a trailer for that below as well.