Sly Stone, the funk-music pioneer known as the lead member of Sly and the Family Stone, is dead at 82. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone,” Stone’s family said in a statement. “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.” They added, “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.”
Stone was born Sylvester Stewart in Texas in 1944 and raised in San Francisco. He was the second oldest of five siblings and began his first band — the Stewart Four — with his brother Freddie and his sisters Rose and Loretta, which put out their only record in 1956 when Stone was still a teenager. Freddie and Rose, along with their younger sister Vet, eventually joined the Family Stone, the first integrated rock band, in 1966. Their first album, 1967’s A Whole New Thing, was not a commercial success but led to 1968’s Dance to the Music, which produced a top-ten hit of the same name. Their first number-one single was 1968’s political unification anthem “Everyday People,” off their album Stand! In 1969, they performed at Woodstock. Successful later works by the band included the 1971 album There’s a Riot Going On, the 1971 number-one hit “Family Affair,” and the 1973 album Fresh.
The group ultimately dissolved in 1975. Stone released three solo albums in the ’70s: 1975’s High on You; 1976’s Heard You Missed Me, Well I’m Back; and 1979’s Back on the Right Track. The latter two were billed as “Family Stone” albums, though the rest of the band did not participate. Stone largely disappeared from public life after the ’70s. Sly and the Family Stone was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. In recent years, Stone participated in Questlove’s Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul and was the subject of the Roots member’s 2025 documentary Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), released on Disney+ and Hulu on February 13. In their statement, Stone’s family revealed that Stone completed a screenplay based on his 2024 memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), that they are “eager to share with the world in due course.”
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