Funk icon Sly Stone dies at age 82

Funk innovator and icon Sly Stone died Monday at age 82 from complications from COPD and other health conditions, according to a statement released by his family.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone,” the statement said. “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.”

His career

Stone started out as a popular radio DJ in San Francisco, working on stations KSOL and KDIA.

He also produced a number of other artists, including the Great Society, Grace Slick’s band before she joined the Jefferson Airplane, and Bobby Freeman, before forming Sly and the Family Stone in 1967.

Stone, who was born Sylvester Stewart, wrote all of the band’s songs himself.

The band became hugely successful in the 1960s and 70s, with numerous hits including  “Everyday People,” “Thank You” and “Family Affair,” “Dance To the Music,” “Stand!,” “Hot Fun In the Summertime,” “Runnin’ Away,” “If You Want Me To Stay,” and “Time For Livin’.”

After that success faded, Stone became reclusive, struggled with substance abuse, and began to have health problems. He was homeless for a time, and was said to have lived in a van in Los Angeles.

“A monumental figure”

At one point he won a $5 million judgment for unpaid royalties, but it was later overturned on appeal.

As his family’s statement about his death noted, however, he remained “a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk and rock music,” one whose songs “have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable.”

He appeared at the band’s Hall of Fame induction in 1993 and at the Grammys in 2005, where he performed several of the band’s hits.

He released an autobiography in 2023, though it was somewhat vague about the details of the time period that created all of the band’s iconic hits.

The family revealed that Stone had recently completed a screenplay of his life story, which will hopefully be unveiled and produced posthumously.

“We extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers during this difficult time,” they concluded. “We wish peace and harmony to all who were touched by Sly’s life and his iconic music.”

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