The Pop Corporation

Sly Stone has left the building, leaving behind a life and a career that eclipses most of what everyone else managed to cram in, combined. Seemingly against the odds, he managed to reach the grand old age of 82.

His family issued a statement.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone. After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family. While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.”

“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. In a testament to his enduring creative spirit, Sly recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course, which follows a memoir published in 2024.”

“We extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers during this difficult time. We wish peace and harmony to all who were touched by Sly’s life and his iconic music.”

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your unwavering support.”

An innovator and monumental figure is putting it lightly – spearheading soul music and rock ‘n’ roll as a DJ, reinventing popular music and effectively inventing funk music and psychedelic soul with Sly & The Family Stone. While received wisdom says Hendrix had the set of Woodstock, anyone who has seen the footage knows rightly, that Sly’s group where the main draw from that fabled weekend.

Around that time, Sly & The Family Stone would appear on prime-time television in the US, and not once toning down their act, appearing with a barrage of funk and psychedelic rock, delivered in medley form, inviting the audience to dance with them, and blowing all the competition out of the water with forward thinking, but hugely accessible music.

A multi-instrumentalist and producer for the band, Stone and his charges were resolutely modern, being one of a handful of West Coast acid groups with mixed raced members. Bigger hits included ‘Dance To The Music’, ‘I Want To Take You Higher’, ‘Family Affair’, ‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)’, and ‘If You Want Me To Stay’.

The group fell away and dissolved, but as hip hop rolled around, the hook-heavy music with killer basslines soon found their way into other people’s music, with Arrested Development effectively having their main hit based entirely on a Sly track, and the Beastie Boys and countless others mined the gold in Stone’s back catalogue.

These deeper cuts endured just as much as the hits.

Stone’s issues with drugs is well documented, and honestly, we’re not too interested in talking about that here – because the verve, charm, and wit of the man and the bloody-mindedness to forge his own musical path is what will endure.

Sly Stone is a musical giant – his passing is a reminded to cue up his music the first chance you get.