Overview

• He died peacefully in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend and extended family.
• As leader of Sly and the Family Stone, he forged a multiracial, mixed-gender band whose fusion of funk, soul, rock and psychedelia produced anthems like “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and “Family Affair.”
• His dawn-breaking set at Woodstock in 1969 and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 cemented his status as a musical innovator.
• Following a 2024 memoir, he completed a screenplay of his life story shortly before his death, demonstrating a creative spirit that endured into his final years.
• Survived by his children Sylvester Jr., Sylvyette Phunne and Novena Carmel, he is remembered for inspiring hip-hop, rock and soul artists and for his transformative impact on popular music.