Sly & The Family Stone

Sly Biography

Sly and the Family Stone

American band Sly and the Family Stone was formed in San Francisco. It was influential in the creation of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music and was active from 1966 to 1983. Sly Stone, a singer-songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist, served as its bandleader. Also performing were Stone’s siblings Rose and Freddie Stone, as well as trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, drummer Greg Errico, saxophone Jerry Martini, and bassist Larry Graham. It was the first significant American rock band with a mixed-race male and female lineup.

The group, which was founded in 1966, helped create the “psychedelic soul” sound by fusing a range of unrelated musical styles together in their work. They released a number of Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles, including “Dance to the Music” (1968), “Everyday People” (1968), and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (1969), in addition to well-received albums like Stand! (1969), which fused musical sensibility with social commentary. It evolved into a darker and less popular funk sound in the 1970s on albums like Fresh (1973) and There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971), which proved to be just as important as their earlier work. Drug abuse and interpersonal conflicts caused the band to break up by 1975, although Sly continued to record and tour under the name “Sly and the Family Stone” with a new rotating lineup until drug abuse forced his effective retirement in 1987.

The music of Sly and the Family Stone had a significant impact on later American funk, pop, soul, R&B, and hip-hop. 1993 saw the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induct Sly and the Family Stone. Except for Sly, all of the original Family Stone members were there. Sly emerged abruptly as the band stepped up to the podium to accept their trophies. He took the prize, said a few words (“See you soon”), and then vanished from view.

Sly and the Family Stone received the R&B Foundation Pioneer Award in December 2001. T”Dance to the Music” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again),” two Family Stone tracks, are included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. They were named number 43 in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 greatest artists of all time in 2004.

Different Strokes by Different Folks, a tribute album to Sly and the Family Stone, was made available on July 12th, 2005 by Starbucks’ Hear Music label. The project includes songs that are both covers of the band’s songs and samples of the original recordings.The Roots (“Star,” which samples “Everybody Is a Star”), Maroon 5 (“Everyday People”), John Legend, Joss Stone, and Van Hunt (“Family Affair”), will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas (“Dance to the Music,”), Steven Tyler, and Robert Randolph, and others were among the performers (“I Want to Take You Higher”). The tribute album from Epic Records was published on February 7th, 2006; it included two extra covers: “Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey” and “Thank You (Faletinme Be Mice Elf Again)”. The R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Grammy award for 2007 went to the rendition of “Family Affair.” On February 8, 2006, a Sly and the Family Stone tribute was presented during the Grammy Awards. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2007.

Discography

Ain’t but the One WaySpotifyAppleYouTube
Back on the Right TrackSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m BackSpotifyAppleYouTube
Small TalkSpotifyAppleYouTube
FreshSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
There’s a Riot Goin’ OnSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Stand!SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
LifeSpotifyAppleYouTube
Dance to the MusicSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
A Whole New ThingSpotifyAppleYouTube

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Did Sly And The Family Stone Break Up?

The reasons for the break-up of Sly and the Family Stone are unclear. Some say that drug use and creative differences caused the band to split, while others claim that financial troubles were to blame. Whatever the case, the band stopped performing together in 1975 and never reunited.

Who Was The Lead Singer Of Sly And The Family Stone?

The lead singer of Sly and the Family Stone was Sylvester Stewart, better known as Sly Stone. He was born in Denton, Texas, on March 15, 1943. Raised in Vallejo, California, he began his musical career as a DJ in the early 1960s. In 1966, he formed Sly and the Family Stone, a racially and ethnically diverse band that became one of the most popular groups of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band’s hits includes “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “I Want to Take You Higher.” Sly Stone left the group in 1975 and pursued a solo career.

What Is Sly And The Family Stone’S Biggest Hit?

The Family Stone’s biggest hit is “Everyday People.” The song was released in 1968 and peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Everyday People” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Most Searched For Sly & The Family Stone Songs

If you want me to staySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Everyday PeopleSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Dance to the musicSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Family AffairSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Hot Fun in the summertimeSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Ha Ha, Hee HeeSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
In TimeSpotifyAppleAmazon
Just Like a BabySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon