Tyler Perry Speaks At Angie Stone’s Funeral, Defends Her Musical Legacy

Angie Stone passed away en route to a performance on March 1, shocking her legion of fans and supporters as details later emerged. During the funeral service for Angie Stone, Tyler Perry took to the podium to both honor and defend the late singer’s legacy regarding unpaid royalties.

Angie Stone was laid to rest at the First Nazareth Baptist Church in her native Columbia, S.C. last Saturday (March 15). The event was streamed live on local outlet WACH‘s YouTube stream and featured a bevy of speakers.

Tyler Perry took to the podium some two hours into the memorial service and addressed the music industry regarding their mistreatment of Stone regarding decades of unpaid royalties. In interviews, Stone has been clear that dealing with recording labels had not worked out favorably on the financial side and that she had given far too much of herself to the industry for such lopsided gains.

“I’m angry at the way she was treated,’ said Perry. “To think that this woman was in the business for all of these years. All of those years, all of those songs, all of that money that was owed to her. Where is it? It’s wrong.”

Perry also centered on Stone’s musical contributions and used lyrics from the singer’s “No More Rain” single and tied it together in a moving tribute to Stone’s enduring influence and legacy on soul music and R&B.

Angie Stone was 63.

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Photo: Getty