Hollywood Mourns the Loss of Sly Stone
Hollywood is paying tribute to Sly Stone, a pioneer of radio rock, after the news of his death was announced on Monday. Stone passed away after a long battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, according to his family.
A Peaceful Passing
"Sly died peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family," his family said in a statement. "While we mourn his absence, we take comfort in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to inspire and uplift future generations."
A Legendary Career
Sly Stone rose to fame in the music industry in 1968 with his band Sly and the Family Stone, thanks to their hit song "Dance to the Music," which reached the top 10 in both pop and R&B charts. The group went on to produce many crossover hits, including "Summer of Love," "Stand!," "Hot Fun in the Summertime," "Runnin’ Away," "If You Want Me to Stay," and "Time for Livin’," which helped define the sound of their hometown, San Francisco.
Tributes from the Music Industry
Many celebrities have taken to social media to pay tribute to Sly Stone. Dionne Warwick, who played keyboards for Sly at the beginning of his career, said, "I met Sly when he was a DJ. I will miss him, as I know everyone will. My condolences to his family." Durand Bernarr, a Grammy nominee, told The Hollywood Reporter, "I hope he knew that he was loved and respected, and we were rooting for him." Lucky Daye, an American Idol alum and singer, also remembered Sly’s influence on the music industry, saying, "May he rest in paradise today."
A Hero to Many
Grammy winner Ray Parker Jr. called Sly Stone "my hero." Paul Stanley, co-founder and co-lead singer of Kiss, recalled seeing Sly and the Family Stone open for Jimi Hendrix in 1968, saying, "They were a freight train of bombastic, joyful soul, who soon climbed the charts and changed the sound of R&B for many other artists. Rest in soul!" Jamie Foxx simply wrote, "Legend Rip Sly," on Instagram.
A Lasting Legacy
Questlove, director of the documentary film Sly Lives! (Aka the Load of the Black Genius), paid tribute to Sly on Instagram, saying, "From the moment his music reached me in the early 1970s, it became a part of my soul. Sly was a giant – not only for his groundbreaking work with the Family Stone but also for the radical inclusiveness and deep human truths he brought to every note." The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted Sly and the Family Stone in 1993, remembered Sly as a pioneer who "broke free from liberation at the top and expanded the borders of pop and R&B with every new song."
Remembering Sly Stone
The Sundance Film Festival also paid tribute to Sly Stone, saying, "Sly Stone changed music forever. A visionary, a rebel, a genius. His sound shaped generations, and his mind broke borders." As news of his passing spread, many fans and fellow musicians took to social media to share their favorite memories and songs by Sly and the Family Stone, ensuring that his legacy will live on for generations to come.
