Sly Stone, the Grammy award-winning front man of Sly and the Family Stone, has died at 82 after a prolonged battle with COPD. The beloved musician was renowned as a funk king, treasured by fans for his decades-long legacy. With hits that included “Family Affair,” “Everyday People,” and “Stand.”
Stone’s family issued a statement announcing his passing to the media. “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,” they wrote.
Becoming Sly Stone
According to the New York Times, he was born as Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, on March 15, 1943. He was the second of Alpha and K.C. Stewart’s children. The family moved west to Vallejo, California, where Mr. Stewart found work as a cleaner and a maintenance worker at a department store.
In 1952, He formed a gospel group with his three siblings called The Stewart Family Four. They released their first single, “On the Battlefield,” and “Walking in Jesus’ Name,” on the flip side, reflecting the family’s Pentecostal musical roots. Even then, Sylvester sang lead.
He got the nickname “Sly” when someone misspelled his first name. He learned to play the guitar and quickly acquired the skills to play other instruments.
Sly worked with every genre: Black bands, doo-wop groups, and interracial bands. Then he became a radio disc jockey.
According to The Times, in 1966, he was the leader of a band called Sly and the Stoners. The following year, he merged with the band his brother Freddie was playing with, and together they became Sly and the Family Stone.
Sly was on the organ, his brother, Freddie, played the guitar, Larry Graham played the bass, and a white drummer, Gregg Errico. Cynthia Robinson on trumpet, Jerry Martini on saxophone, and Sly’s sisters Rose, who played the keyboard and sang backup, and Vaetta, who also sang backup.
Together, the group created iconic hits. The band’s brand of glittering music was infectious. It brought joy to many wedding receptions and backyard barbecues. Generations have his work embedded into the soundtracks of their memories.
Sly and the Family Stone released their first studio album. “A Whole New Thing” in 1967, followed by “Life” in 1968. The group performed at the original Woodstock in 1969.
Songs like “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Everybody is a Star,” and “Dance To The Music” are inescapable earworms that have warmed up moments all over the world. During their height of popularity, from 1967 to 1982, they released ten studio albums, three live albums, and seven subsequent compilation albums. Sly and the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
What Is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, debilitating respiratory condition and currently the third leading cause of death in the United States,” according to the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. COPD is a leading concern in the Black community, as a 2021 article in the same journal reports that “COPD is increasingly being recognized as a major health problem in America’s multicultural Black population.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled the chronic condition “1 of the top 10 causes of death in the United States.” There are higher morbidity rates for COPD in the Black community. COPD is treatable with medications, oxygen therapy, and other methods, but there is no cure for it.
Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, constant coughing, excessive wheezing, elevated heart rate, severe fatigue, and a tightness of the chest, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Many who fight COPD face recurring flare-ups. Symptoms can appear suddenly.
Because its symptoms overlap with several other diseases, it can be easy for COPD to be misdiagnosed. “A person may have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but not notice symptoms until it is in the moderate stage,” according to the COPD Foundation.
Some individuals do not experience noticeable symptoms until they reach middle age.
The Academy Award-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr. died of COPD as well.
How Will Sly Stone Be Remembered?
Stone’s family members expressed respect and admiration for Stone’s artistic contributions in the statement. “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,” they continued. “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.”
Stone’s impressive life story was told in the memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). It depicted his rise to the top ranks of the music industry. His family revealed that his story would soon be coming to the screen.
Amir Questlove Thompson also made the documentary “Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)”, which is streaming on Hulu.
“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,” the family wrote.
“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,” they concluded.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Stone/Stewart family.
Resources
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
COPD Foundation
