Sly Stone, Trailblazing Frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, Passes Away at 82
Photo: Sarfatims via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
The music community is grieving the passing of a trailblazer with the demise of Sylvester Stewart, more popularly known as Sly Stone. As the lead of Sly and the Family Stone, he blended soul, rock, psychedelia, and gospel during the 1960s and 1970s, transforming the music scene. Stone was 82 years old when he died at his residence in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. His passing follows an extensive struggle with C.O.P.D., or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as stated in a release by his family.
Recognized as the creator of the progressive soul movement, Stone displayed musical talent from an early age, excelling at various instruments. Although he was originally from Texas, he grew up in the Bay Area of Northern California, performing gospel music alongside his siblings, Freddie and Rose. In 1966, the siblings launched Sly and the Family Stone, a groundbreaking mixed-race, mixed-gender band that achieved multiple hits in the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Numerous well-known tracks from the group, including “Family Affair” and “Everyday People,” would later be sampled by hip-hop artists. His unique persona, vibrant style, and eagerness to explore different musical genres have left a lasting legacy even after the group disbanded in the mid-1970s due to his substance issues.
Stone’s impact is evident in subsequent artists such as George Clinton, Michael Jackson, Outkast, and Prince, with critic Joel Selvin notably proclaiming, “There was Black music before Sly Stone, and Black music after Sly Stone.”
While Stone produced several solo albums, he struggled to achieve the same level of success he found within the group. Sadly, erratic behavior and addiction issues kept him predominantly out of the public eye. He occasionally performed and was with his bandmates when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, and he took the stage at the 2006 Grammy tribute to the group.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Sly and the Family Stone, partly due to Questlove, who released the documentary Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) in 2025.
“Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music,” his family shared in a statement. “His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable. 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.”
Musical pioneer Sly Stone passed away at 82 years old on June 9, 2025.
As the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, he was a pioneer who fused soul, rock, psychedelia, and gospel.
While he faded from the spotlight due to addiction issues, his influence remains strong.
Related Articles:
RIP Jimmy Buffett: The “Margaritaville” Singer Dies at 76
RIP Roberta Flack: Legendary Genre-Bending American Singer Dies at 88
RIP Tina Turner: Honoring the Legendary and Courageous “Queen of Rock and Roll”
RIP Louis Gossett Jr: Celebrating the First Black Man To Win Best Supporting Actor Oscar