Farewell to Sly Stone, the fallen angel of funk

"I want to, I want to, I want to take you higher!" Sly Stone shouted at the height of the psychedelic explosion back in 1968. It wasn't just a call to get high and stay alert, it was also a cry of encouragement for freedom fighters and justice for the black American community, recently hit by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

It had been a year since Sly & The Family Stone had debuted with 'A Whole New Thing', an album that, as its name indicated, brought a musical, political and also psychedelic revolution to funk. It was followed by a string of masterpieces ('Dance to the Music', 'Life', 'Stand!' and 'There's a Riot Goin' On') that changed the genre forever, and would serve as a source of inspiration for countless later stars, from Prince to Red Hot Chili Peppers .

Born Sylvester Stewart in 1943 in Denton, Texas, Sly was the second of five children and his family was affiliated with the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). After moving to California at age eight, he recorded his first single with his brothers, with whom he sang gospel music under the name The Stewart Four.

Already in the sixties, he worked as a DJ in different clubs and entered the recording industry in 1964, when he was signed as a producer by Autumn Records, where he worked with The Beau Brummels, The Mojo Men, Bobby Freeman and The Great Society (Grac Slic's band before joining Jefferson Airplane).

In 1966 he formed Sly & The Family Stone, with whom he sold millions of records and performed at the 'white' Woodstock and the 'black' Woodstock (the Harlem Cultural Festival, reflected in the documentary 'Summer of soul' ), but as the seventies entered, its leader fell victim to addiction and began to boycott himself, starring in scandals that ended in arrests, cancellations of concerts and, ultimately, the destruction of his public image.

After disbanding the band in 1975, Sly released several solo albums, his last being 'Ain't But the One Way' in 1982. He then remained in the industry for just over five years, during which time he was arrested several times, until he disappeared in 1987.

Sly reappeared in 2006 to perform at the Grammy Awards with his old band, but before the end of the performance, he walked off the stage without a word. However, the end of the decade was hopeful for him, as he embarked on several successful tours. But five years later, in 2011, after the release of an album of re-recordings of his classics with all-star collaborations, titled 'I'm Back! Family & Friends', the New York Post reported that he had become homeless and living in an RV in Los Angeles : "The van is parked on a residential street in Crenshaw, the Los Angeles neighborhood where 'Boyz n the Hood' was filmed. "A retired couple makes sure he eats once a day, and Stone showers at home," said the journalist who tracked him down, who also recorded the former superstar's sad plea: "Please tell everyone to give me work and play my music. I'm sick of this shit."

Shortly after, he went to court with his former manager Jerry Goldstein, who had cut off his access to his royalties, and was able to regain some control over his finances. But after several hospitalizations, doctors told him in 2019 that if he didn't quit drugs, he would die within months. In 2023, Stone published his memoir, 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin): A Memoir,' and last year, the world remembered him again thanks to the documentary 'Sly Lives!: Legacy of a Genius,' available on Disney+ .

But this past Monday, his body surrendered at the age of 82 at his home in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, as his family announced in a statement. "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone. After a long battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his best friend, and his family. While we mourn his passing, we take comfort in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire generations to come."

The statement concludes by claiming that "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. As a testament to his boundless creative spirit, Sly recently completed the script for his biography, a project we look forward to sharing with the world in due course, following the publication of his memoir in 2024."