Sly Stone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sly Stone
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Stone performs with the Family Stone in 2007
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| Birth name | Sylvester Stewart |
| Born | March 15, 1943 Denton, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 9, 2025 (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1956–2023 |
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Sylvester Stewart (born March 15, 1943, died June 9, 2025), known as Sly Stone, was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was famous as the leader of the band Sly and the Family Stone. Sly Stone was very important in creating funk music. He mixed soul, rock, psychedelia (music with a dreamy sound), and gospel in the 1960s and 1970s.
Some people say that while James Brown started funk, Sly Stone made it even better. He created exciting songs that also shared important messages. His music influenced many artists from all different backgrounds. He is also known as the founder of "progressive soul," a new and experimental type of soul music.
Sly Stone was born in Denton, Texas, and grew up in Vallejo, California. He learned to play many instruments when he was very young. As a child, he performed gospel music with his brother Freddie and sister Rose. They later became his bandmates. In the mid-1960s, he worked as a record producer and a disc jockey (DJ).
In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie combined their bands. They created Sly and the Family Stone. This band was special because it included people of different races and both men and women. The group had many hit songs, like "Dance to the Music" (1968) and "Everyday People" (1968). They also made popular albums like Stand! (1969).
By the mid-1970s, the band faced some challenges. They eventually stopped performing together. Sly Stone then recorded several solo albums. He also worked with other musicians like Parliament-Funkadelic. In 1993, he was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He performed live at the 2006 Grammy Awards, which was his first big performance in many years. In 2023, he released a book about his life called Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). Stone passed away in June 2025 due to health reasons.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Musical Talent
Sylvester Stewart was born in Denton, Texas, on March 15, 1943. His family later moved to Vallejo, California. He was one of five children. His parents, K.C. and Alpha Stewart, were very religious. They encouraged music in their home. Music was very important in their church, the Church of God in Christ (COGIC).
When they were kids, Sylvester, his brother Freddie, and his sisters Rose and Loretta, formed a group. They called themselves "The Stewart Four." They sang gospel music in church. They even recorded a song in 1956 called "On the Battlefield." Most of his siblings also became musicians. They took the last name "Stone."
Sylvester was a musical prodigy. This means he was incredibly talented at music from a very young age. By age seven, he could play keyboards well. By eleven, he was skilled at guitar, bass, and drums. In high school, he focused on guitar. He joined several bands. One band was The Viscaynes, a doo-wop group (a style of singing popular in the 1950s). The Viscaynes had members of different backgrounds. This included Sylvester and his Filipino friend Frank Arellano. This idea of a mixed group later inspired his famous band, The Family Stone. The Viscaynes released a few songs locally. Sylvester also recorded some songs by himself as Danny Stewart. He and his brother Fred also started other bands together. After high school, Stone studied music at Solano Community College.
How did he get the nickname Sly? When he was in grade school, a classmate spelled his name "Slyvester" by mistake. The nickname "Sly" stuck with him!
Becoming a DJ and Producer
In the mid-1960s, Sly Stone became a DJ for the radio station KSOL in San Francisco. He played music by many different artists. This included The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, alongside soul music. He also worked as a record producer for Autumn Records. There, he helped bands like The Beau Brummels make their records.
Sly Stone was important in making KSOL a popular soul music station. He even called it K-SOUL for a while. Besides being a DJ, he was a talented keyboard player. He played music with many famous performers. These included Dionne Warwick and Marvin Gaye.
Forming The Family Stone
In 1966, Sly had a band with Cynthia Robinson on trumpet. His brother Freddie had a band called Freddie and the Stone Souls. One night, Sly and Freddie decided to join their bands together. They added Larry Graham, a talented musician, to the group. This new band, formed in 1967, had members of different races and backgrounds. This was quite unique at the time. They made a big impression playing music around the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1968, Sly's sister, Rose Stone, also joined the band. This completed the core of what would become Sly and the Family Stone.
Sly and the Family Stone's Success
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After their first album, A Whole New Thing (1967), didn't become a hit, Sly and the Family Stone released their first hit song. It was "Dance to the Music" in 1968. This song was also on an album with the same name. Their third album, Life (1968), also didn't sell a lot.
But then came their fourth album, Stand! (1969). It was a huge success! It sold over three million copies. It had a number one hit song, "Everyday People". By the summer of 1969, Sly and the Family Stone were one of the biggest music groups in the world. They released more hit songs like "Hot Fun in the Summertime" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)". They even performed at the famous Woodstock music festival. In that same summer, they also played at the Summer of Soul concerts in Harlem, New York. The crowd loved them there.
When the band started touring, people loved their exciting live shows. Fans of all backgrounds came to see them. In 1973, when Bob Marley and his band The Wailers first toured the U.S., they opened for Sly and The Family Stone.
Challenges and Changes for the Band
With the band's great fame, some problems started to appear. The relationships between band members became difficult. The record company, Epic, wanted the band to make more music that would sell well.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1969, Sly Stone and his bandmates faced many challenges. This made it harder for them to record music. For about two years, from 1969 to 1971, they only released one single. It was "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" / "Everybody Is a Star". This song was very important. It used heavy, funky beats that became a big part of funk music later on. It also featured Larry Graham's cool way of playing the bass guitar called "slapping." Graham said he invented this style to make up for not having a drummer in an earlier band. "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" was a number one hit in 1970. It sold over a million copies.
Sly Stone's behavior also started to change. Epic Records was waiting for new music, but it wasn't coming. So, they released a Greatest Hits album in 1970. A year later, the band released their fifth album, There's a Riot Goin' On. This album sounded much darker than their earlier music. Sly Stone played most of the instruments himself. He sang more of the lead vocals. It was one of the first big albums to use a drum machine.
The Band Starts to Break Apart
The band wasn't working together as well as before. Their music didn't sell as much. Drummer Greg Errico left in 1971. He was replaced by Andy Newmark. Larry Graham and Sly Stone were not getting along. Graham left the band in 1972. He was replaced by Rustee Allen. The band's later albums, Fresh (1973) and Small Talk (1974), featured more of Sly Stone by himself.
It became harder for Sly and the Family Stone to get booked for live shows. Promoters worried that the band might not show up or finish their concerts. This happened often in the 1970s. Sometimes, fans would get upset if the band didn't play. In 1975, after a show at Radio City Music Hall in New York that didn't go well, the band officially broke up.
After the band split, Rose Stone started a solo career. Freddie Stone played with Larry Graham's new band, Graham Central Station, for a while. Later, Freddie Stone retired from music and became a pastor. The background singers, Little Sister, also went their separate ways. Andy Newmark became a very successful drummer for other famous musicians like John Lennon.
Later Years
Solo Work and Collaborations
After The Family Stone broke up, Sly Stone continued to make music. He recorded four more albums. One was released under his own name, High on You (1975). The other three were released as "Sly & The Family Stone" albums. These were Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back (1976), Back on the Right Track (1979), and Ain't But the One Way (1982). This last album started as a project with George Clinton. These later albums didn't become as famous as his earlier work.
Stone also worked with other artists. He collaborated with the band Funkadelic on their 1981 album. In the summer of 1984, he toured briefly with Bobby Womack. He also appeared on songs by other musicians, like Jesse Johnson's song "Crazay" in 1986. Stone released a few songs for movie soundtracks.
In 1990, he sang on the Earth, Wind & Fire song "Good Time." In 1992, Sly and the Family Stone contributed a new version of "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" to an album called Red Hot + Dance. This album helped raise money for AIDS charities.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Rare Appearances
A very important moment was in 1993. Sly Stone and The Family Stone were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Stone appeared on stage for this special honor. For many years, he didn't perform much in public. His son, Sylvester Stewart Jr., mentioned in 1997 that his father was still writing music.
In 2005, Stone made a rare appearance. He went to see his sister Vet Stone perform with her tribute band. He was even seen working on new music for a group called "Family Stone."
Mid-2000s Tributes
Grammy Awards Tribute Performance
At the 2006 Grammy Awards, there was a special tribute to Sly and the Family Stone. This was a big deal because Sly Stone performed live for the first time since 1987! He joined some of the original Family Stone members and other famous musicians. Sly, wearing a cool outfit with a blonde mohawk hairstyle, played keyboards and sang part of "I Want To Take You Higher." He then waved to the audience and left the stage. It was a memorable, though short, appearance.
Tribute Album
In 2005 and 2006, a tribute album called Different Strokes by Different Folks was released. This album had other artists performing Sly and the Family Stone's songs. Some artists included The Roots, Maroon 5, and John Legend. They all paid tribute to Sly Stone's amazing music.
Re-emergence
More Performances and New Music
Starting in 2007, Sly Stone began to perform live more often. He made guest appearances with The New Family Stone. He performed with the Family Stone at places like the Flamingo Las Vegas Showroom. Sometimes these performances were short, but fans were excited to see him. As he continued to tour, Stone seemed more energetic. He often danced and interacted with the audience. He performed many of his classic hits like "Stand!" and "I Want To Take You Higher."
In 2009, Stone gave a long radio interview on KCRW-FM. He talked about his life and music. He also performed at the African Festival of the Arts in Chicago with George Clinton.
Later that year, Sly Stone signed a new record deal with Cleopatra Records. In 2011, he released the album I'm Back! Family & Friends. This was his first new album in almost 30 years! It included new versions of his classic hits with guest musicians like Jeff Beck. It also had some brand new songs.
In his later years, Stone sometimes appeared with George Clinton. He performed with his daughter Novena's band, Baby Stone. In 2015, he attended a special event in Oakland, California. It was called the LOVE CITY CONVENTION, which honored Sly and the Family Stone. In 2023, he released his life story in a book called Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). He also released a Christmas song, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (2023 Mix)."
Death
Sly Stone passed away on June 9, 2025, at his home in Granada Hills, Los Angeles. He was 82 years old. His family shared that he died from health problems, including a lung condition.
Film and Television
Several documentary films have been made about Sly Stone and his music.
- Small Talk About Sly features interviews about Sly Stone's music and his impact.
- On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone (2017) follows a filmmaker trying to find people who knew and worked with Sly Stone.
- Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) (2025) was made by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. This film looks at the experiences of Black performers. It celebrates Sly Stone's life and music.
Before he passed away, Sly Stone was working on a movie script based on his life story. His family said they hope to share this project with the world one day.
Legacy
Sly and the Family Stone, along with artists like James Brown, were some of the first to create funk music. This happened in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They mixed R&B beats, catchy tunes, and psychedelia (dreamy sounds). This created a new kind of pop, soul, and rock music. This new sound had a big and lasting impact.
For example, Motown producer Norman Whitfield was inspired by their sound. He used it when he made songs for groups like The Temptations. Sly Stone's band was also groundbreaking. It included people of different races and genders. This influenced many artists in the 1980s, like Prince. Many artists from the 1990s and later have used samples from Sly Stone's music in their own songs. These include Public Enemy and LL Cool J.
Musician Bootsy Collins once said, "The most talented musician I know is Sly Stone... he's amazing." He described Sly Stone as an incredible musician to watch play.
Personal Life
Sly Stone had some interesting encounters in his life. He once met the famous singer and actress Doris Day. He told her he loved her song "Whatever Will Be, Will Be". They even sang it together at the piano.
Marriage
Sly Stone married Kathy Silva on June 5, 1974. Their wedding was very unusual. It happened on stage during a sold-out Sly and the Family Stone concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City! They had big plans for the wedding. Some of their plans couldn't happen, but it was still a memorable event. Sly and Kathy separated in 1976.
Children
Sly Stone had three children:
- His son, Sylvester Jr., was born in 1973. His mother is Kathy Silva.
- His first daughter, Sylvyette (who goes by Phunne), was born around 1976. Her mother was Cynthia Robinson, a member of Sly's band.
- His second daughter, Novena Carmel, is also a singer and performer. She co-hosts a show on the radio station KCRW.
Family
Sly Stone's cousin is Moses Tyson, Jr.. He is a gospel musician and plays the organ.
Discography
- High on You (1975)
- I'm Back! Family & Friends (2011)
Images for kids
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Sly and the Family Stone in 1968. Sly Stone is second from the left.
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Stone performing in 2007
See also
In Spanish: Sly & the Family Stone para niños
