Legendary musician and funk pioneer Sly Stone passed away this Monday. The news was shared by his family through a statement, highlighting that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire future generations. Here’s what we know about his death.
What did Sly Stone die of?
According to his family, the founder of the multiracial American band Sly and the Family Stone died after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health issues. So far, no further details about his medical conditions have been disclosed.
“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,” reads the statement shared on the artist’s Instagram account.
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How old was Sly Stone?
The iconic musician was 82 years old at the time of his death.
What was Sly Stone’s net worth?
Before his death, Sly Stone’s net worth was estimated at around $500,000. However, in 1984 he made an unfortunate financial decision by selling his music publishing rights to Michael Jackson for $1 million. Sadly, it was revealed in 2011 that Stone had fallen into bankruptcy.
Who was Sly Stone?
Sylvester Stewart, better known as Sly Stone, was born in Denton, Texas, and moved as a child to Northern California, where his father ran a cleaning business. Sly was a pioneer in techniques such as home recording, multitrack layering, and the use of drum machines—innovations that would later influence artists like Prince, Stevie Wonder, and bedroom producers around the world. His distinctive style, which included the wah-wah pedal, distorted bass lines, and complex vocal arrangements, left a profound mark on funk, soul, and hip-hop.
Before forming his legendary band, he worked as a radio DJ and producer at a small record label. He adopted the stage name Sly Stone and founded Sly and the Family Stone, a group that rose to fame in 1968 with the hit “Dance to the Music.” Their performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, just before sunrise, became an iconic moment in music history.
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In 1971, they released There’s a Riot Goin’ On, their only album to reach number one. However, after this success, the band experienced a commercial decline in the late 1970s. Later albums failed to achieve success, and Sly faced legal troubles, mainly related to drug possession. Despite this, his legacy endured: his influence lived on through disco music and hip-hop sampling.
Sly and the Family Stone was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, and Sly was honored at the 2006 Grammy Awards, where he surprised audiences by walking off stage mid-performance. In 2011, he was facing serious financial and legal troubles, reportedly living in an RV in Los Angeles while fighting to reclaim the rights to his music.
In his personal life, Sly married model Kathy Silva in 1974 during a concert at Madison Square Garden. The couple had a son in 1973 but separated in 1976. He also had two daughters: one with Cynthia Robinson in 1976, and another, Novena, in 1982.
