Photo: Getty Images
Sly Stone, a pioneer of funk music and leader of the band Sly and the Family Stone, has died, according to PEOPLE. He was 82.
On Monday (June 9), Sly's family said the band's frontman died surrounded by loved ones following 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 reads. "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," the statement continued. "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," the statement concluded.
Members of Sly and the Family Stone included the late frontman and two of his siblings, Freddie and Rose. The band began performing together in 1967 and produced massive hits like "Dance to the Music,” "Everyday People," and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).”
"It was like seeing the Black version of The Beatles,” funk legend George Clinton said of Sly and the Family Stone during a 2023 interview. “He had the sensibility of the street, the church, and then, like, the qualities of a Motown, you know, Smokey Robinson — he was all of that in one person."
Sly's drug use, however, affected the band, and they split up for good in the '80s.
In 1993, Sly and the Family Stone was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sly got clean in 2019 after he was hospitalized several times for his drug use. In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, Sly said doctors told him at the time that drugs would kill him.
“That time, I not only listened to the doctor but believed him,” he told The Guardian. “I realized that I needed to clean up. I concentrated on getting strong so that I could get clean. My kids visited me at the hospital. My grandkids visited me. I left with purpose.”
Sly and the Family Stone's performance at the Harlem Cultural Festival was documented in Questlove’s Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul. In 2023, Sly released his memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), named after the band’s 1970 single.
Earlier this year, Questlove chronicled the trailblazing musician's rise and fall in the industry in a documentary titled Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius).
Sly is survived by his three children, Sylvyette Phunne, Novena, and Sylvester Jr.
Rest in peace, Sly Stone.
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