Sly and the Family Stone leader and funk icon Sly Stone died earlier today from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health issues. Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, who directed the new documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), has shared a tribute honoring the late musician. “Sly was a giant — not just for his groundbreaking work with the Family Stone, but for the radical inclusivity and deep human truths he poured into every note,” the Roots drummer wrote on Instagram. His statement continues:
Sly Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, left this earth today, but the changes he sparked while here will echo forever. From the moment his music reached me in the early 1970s, it became a part of my soul. Sly was a giant — not just for his groundbreaking work with the Family Stone, but for the radical inclusivity and deep human truths he poured into every note. His songs weren’t just about fighting injustice; they were about transforming the self to transform the world. He dared to be simple in the most complex ways — using childlike joy, wordless cries, and nursery rhyme cadences to express adult truths. His work looked straight at the brightest and darkest parts of life and demanded we do the same.
Yes, Sly battled addiction. Yes, he disappeared from the spotlight. But he lived long enough to outlast many of his disciples, to feel the ripples of his genius return through hip-hop samples, documentaries, and his memoir. Still, none of that replaces the raw beauty of his original work. As I reflect on his legacy, two lines haunt me: “We deserve everything we get in this life” — a line from the Sly Lives! documentary that feels like both a warning and a manifestation — and, of course, the eternal cry of “Everyday People”: “We got to live together!” Once idealistic, now I hear it as a command. Sly’s music will likely speak to us even more now than it did then. Thank you, Sly. You will forever live.
Thankyoufaliftingushigher Sly.
Love to your family, loved ones and every human whose life you came across and effected.
All of you disciples will be geeked to receive you.
Stone was 82 years old. He guided the Family Stone through a lively blend of funk, R&B, soul, and Motown arrangements on their records, and brought a contagious energy to their shows while he sang about political unrest, discrimination, and the right to live life boldly. Just last week, High Moon Records announced the upcoming release of The First Family: Live at the Winchester Cathedral 1967, a live album capturing Sly and the Family Stone’s earliest known concert recording.
Questlove’s Sly Stone documentary premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival back in January. The film was largely created in collaboration with Stone and his family, and features appearances from D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, George Clinton, Outkast’s André 3000, and more artists. Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) was recently released for streaming on Hulu.
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