Sly Stone, a funk-rock star who led the group Sly and the Family Stone, has died at the age of 82, his family said.
In a statement on Monday, they said that he died following a “prolonged battle” with COPD, a lung disease that makes breathing difficult, and other underlying health issues.
Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, was a revolutionary force in American music, whose vibrant blend of funk, rock, soul and psychedelia shaped an era and influenced generations. As leader of Sly and the Family Stone, he broke racial, gender and musical barriers in the late 1960s and early ’70s. With hits like “Family Affair,” “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and “Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Again),” the band’s electrifying fusion of sound and integrated lineup made them emblematic of the Woodstock generation. Stone’s unique vision and infectious energy helped redefine popular music and culture, influencing artists from Prince to Public Enemy. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 along with the Family Stone.
At the height of their fame, Sly and the Family Stone were festival favorites, most memorably at Woodstock, where their early morning set became a defining moment of the event. Their 1969 album, Stand!, propelled them to superstardom, but drug use, erratic behavior and no-shows began to tarnish their live reputation. Stone’s increasingly insular lifestyle led to the dark and brooding 1971 masterpiece There’s a Riot Goin’ On, an album that reflected both national disillusionment and Stone’s own unraveling mental state. Despite continued creative output, the band’s cohesion disintegrated, and by the mid-1970s, Stone’s career and personal life were in sharp decline.