Overview

• Stone passed away on June 9, 2025, at age 82 following a prolonged struggle with COPD and related health issues.
• As frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, he fused soul, rock, gospel and psychedelia to pioneer the late 1960s funk sound.
• His band’s hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and “Family Affair” and their performance at Woodstock in 1969 cemented their cultural impact.
• Artists from Michael Jackson to the Red Hot Chili Peppers have cited Stone’s work as a major influence on successive generations of musicians.
• His battles with drug abuse in the early 1970s disrupted his career and led to the breakup of the band’s original lineup.