Sly Stone, Funk Pioneer and leader of Sly & The Family Stone, Dead at 82

Legendary musician, songwriter, and record producer, Sly Stone, best known as the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, one of the most influential funk, soul, and rock bands of the late 1960s and 1970s, has died at the age of 82. Sly and the Family Stone broke racial, gender, and genre boundaries with a racially integrated, co-ed lineup and a sound that fused soul, funk, rock, and psychedelia. They are most famously known for their era-defining hits "Dance to the Music," "Everyday People," and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)."

He died peacefully in Los Angeles on Monday June 9 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health issues. He was surrounded by his loved ones and his three children, Sylvester, Novena Carmel, and Sylvette “Phunne” Stone.

Sly Stone was born Sylvester Stewart on March 15, 1943 in Denton, Texas and raised in the Bay Area city of Vallejo in Northern California, Stone mastered several instruments at an early age and performed gospel music as a child.

In the mid-1960s, he worked as both a record producer for Autumn Records and a disc jockey for San Francisco radio station KDIA.

In 1966, Stone and his brother Freddie joined their bands together to form Sly and the Family Stone, a racially integrated, mixed-gender act. The group would score hits including "Dance to the Music" (1968), "Everyday People" (1968), "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" (1969), "I Want to Take You Higher" (1969) "Family Affair" (1971) and "If You Want Me to Stay" (1973) and acclaimed albums including Stand! (1969), There's a Riot Goin' On (1971) and Fresh (1973).

By the mid-1970s, Stone's drug use and erratic behavior effectively ended the group, leaving him to record several unsuccessful solo albums.

He later toured or collaborated with artists such as Parliament-Funkadelic, Bobby Womack, and Jesse Johnson.

In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the group.

He took part in a Sly and the Family Stone tribute at the 2006 Grammy Awards, his first live performance since 1987.

Stone lived a reclusive life in recent decades and battled longstanding health issues and addiction, entering rehab and becoming sober by 2019 after doctors warned he'd jeopardized his life.

He released a memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) in October 2023 and completed a screenplay based on his life.

In early 2025, Questlove's documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) premiered, bringing renewed attention to his career and influence.

Sly Stone’s passing marks the end of an era, but his music and pioneering spirit will resonate for generations.