Sly Stone, leader of 1960s funk band, dies at age 82

Sly Stone, leader of 1960s funk band, dies at age 82


(Reuters) -Sly Stone, the driving force behind Sly and the Family Stone, a multiracial American band whose boiling mix of rock, soul and psychedelia embodied 1960s idealism and helped popularize funk music, has died at the age of 82, his family said on Monday. His group was a regular on the U.S. music charts in the late 1960s and 1970s, with hits such as "Dance to the Music," "I Want to Take You Higher," "Family Affair," "Everyday People," "If You Want Me to Stay," and "Hot Fun in the Summertime." Stone's music became less joyous after the idealistic 1960s, reflecting the polarization of the country after opposition to the Vietnam War and racial tensions triggered unrest on college campuses and in African American neighborhoods in big U.S. cities.

Author: The Star Online


Published at: 2025-06-09 20:36:00

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