Music has lost Sly Stone: genius of the funk sound and founder of a band that pioneered racial integration.

Funk genius Sly Stone , frontman of the pioneering racial integration band Sly and the Family Stone, died at the age of 82, his family informed the American press on Monday, June 9, 2025.

An effervescent hybrid of psychedelic soul, hippie consciousness, blues-like funk, and rock built on black gospel, their music captivated millions of people during a golden age until it sank into the tunnel of drugs.

The singer gave a memorable concert with his band at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969. "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Sly Stone, of Sly and the Family Stone," his family said in a statement.

The musician "died peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his family" after a prolonged battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health problems, his family reported, according to Variety magazine.

"We take comfort in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire future generations," he added. With his vibrant energy on stage and his lyrics, which often denounced racial prejudice,

Stone became a star . He released albums spanning several musical genres. But he retired in the early 1970s, and personal struggles eventually disbanded the group. He reappeared sporadically through tours, erratic television appearances, and a failed reunion in 2006 on the Grammy Awards stage.

Over the course of five years, they left an indelible impact on American and world music, from the group's debut hit "Dance to the Music" in 1967, and the first of their three number one hits, "Everyday People" a year later, to the 1970s rhythm and blues masterpiece "If You Want Me To Stay."

For many, Sly was a musical genius who created the sound of the future. It was " like watching a black version of the Beatles," funk legend George Clinton told CBS News of his old friend.