Special thanks to Dawn Olsen for co-writing this story.
Sly Stone (born Sylvester Stewart in March, 15, 1944 in Dallas, Texas) personifies a music legend's fall from grace. The late-'60s and early-'70s was a time of highest hope and deepest betrayal in America as the nation seemed open to the possibilities of peace, love and understanding; yet war, hatred and fear refused to be conquered and the truest believers became victims of their own disillusionment.
Stone lived the drama to the fullest as he made some of the most buoyant and thoughtful music of the era, transforming black and white music; yet, he collapsed under the weight of his ideals as the promise gave way to realities he couldn’t bear and the drugs turned on him.
Sly's career in music began early, as the prodigy recorded a gospel song at age four. The Stewarts moved to the working class suburb of Vallejo, CA., in 1953 and Sly continued to blossom. He mastered guitar and drums, among many instruments, and played in several high school bands where he met sax player Jerry Martini and trumpeter Cynthia Robinson.
After Stone took courses from Vallejo Junior College in music theory, he met pioneering radio DJ Tom Donahue in 1964, who asked Sly to record and produce for his Autumn Records.
Stone's vision already cut across musical and racial barriers. He produced the Mojo Men (at one time called Sly and the Mojo Men), the Vejtables, the Beau Brummels, Grace Slick and the Great Society, and Bobby Freeman, as well as recording some singles of his own. Freeman's "Swim" is jumping rock 'n' roll, carrying on the noble dance-theme tradition of the Twist and the Watusi. The Brummels had a notable run of three Top 40 hits in 1965 in a pleasant British Invasion-style of pop rock. "Laugh Laugh," with its mournful harmonica, jiggling tambourines and jangling guitars, is the standout.
Seeking the spotlight, of sorts, for himself, Stone went to broadcast school and began DJing at the newly established black music station, KSOL, in 1966. Sly was energetic and innovative, rumbling witticisms and street slang, and expanding the black music format to include the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Lord Buckley. In the back of Sly's mind, a germ was planted that these disparate musical styles could live together in a single group.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Mark Saleski
great post y'all.
when i think of sly stone two things come to mind:
1. I Want To Take You Higher
2. that freaky jacket that Sly used to wear...the one with the looong fringe hangin' from the arms.
2 - Temple A. Stark
I'm too stupid to know Prince is imitation. He's good though.
Nothing is more depressing though then Frankie Lymon's long, slow decline (WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE) . I watched some kind of TV movie a couple of months back. I wanted to slash my wrists. It hit me at a down time and it was just depressing as fuck; Drug habit. Hit his wife. Everybody pitied him. Friends turned their back on him.
http://www.history-of-rock.com/lymon.htm
3 - David
A lot of rock crickets at the time considered them too commercial. The same cricketism was made about Bitches Brew, hard as that is to believe now. Strange days indeed. In retrospect they were one of the very few bands at Woodstock that didn't suck.
"Fresh" is worth mentioning too, I think. Though not one of their masterpieces, it is still an extremely cool record.
4 - Eric Olsen
Thanks guys. At any given time whoever is popular is "too commercial" for a lo of critics. I don't really remember that about Sly, but I'm sure it's true.
Here is someone who just couldn't handle the responsibility of greatness, and has done everything to keep it at arm's length for almost 30 years. It's really too bad, but at least he did put out some timeless music in a short period of time.
"Fresh" has its moments - thanks for mentioning it.
5 - Mac Diva
A fine tribute. I've forgotten to add my Sly and the Family Stone CD to iTunes, but now I will.
This also reminds me I want to write something about Rhino and other labels' CD-ROM compilations, which came out five, six or seven years ago -- before the Internet exploded in use. I believe they should be redone and reissued so more people can see and hear the artists. My Rhino 'Rock Expedition' is the only material on acts such as the Beau Brummels I have, but it is very thorough. Thanks for the inspiration, Dawn and Eric.
6 - Eric Olsen
Thanks MD, very glad you liked it.
7 - Todd
I think "Fresh" is every bit as good as "Riot." Two of the best soul/funk lps ever, in my opinion.
8 - Eric Olsen
A lot of people like "Fresh," I just see it as a step down, but Sly had greatness in him until he finally squeezed it all out.
9 - BB
Thanks Eric and Dawn for the trip down memory lane. "Hot Fun In the Summertime" has got to be my all time favorite summer song. Even more so than the Beach Boys (save and except the Young Rascals "It's A Beautiful Morning"). This is a terrific post and I would say is of Rolling Stone caliber.
10 - Eric Olsen
thanks very much BB!
11 - Ronnie
Sly is a genius, to me the greatest producer/writer/musician that ever lived. The Beatles were four people, Sly was just one person that wrote the lyrics, produced the songs, and played a lot of different instruments. Some people don't understand or know that sly started recording at four years old. I ask you guys to go all over the net and find out how many other artists that he either produced, wrote for, or played on their material. I think he has contributed greatly to this world through his music. Just check out the lyrics man! Sure I would like to see and hear from the whole group again just to show these wanna be rockers,rappers,and hip-hoppers what a real true artist is all about. Now I want ya to go out and get,"High on you" if ya don`t have it already, because it was really a Sly album. He made the return to the Instrumental song, "Green eyed Monster Girl" something that he had`nt did in a long time. Also don`t forget about the "LiL Sister" songs that he made. Instead of putting him down for all of the negative things that he did, we should be praising & celebrating him for what he offered and gave us to hear/see/feel. There was no better live group than Sly. What someone needs to do is offer him a great deal of mad loot so that we can hear & see him perform again. You don`t think that M. Jackson purchased his catalog just so that he could go to sleep with it in his bed. Do ya!!!!!!!!!!!
12 - Michael
The comment about Prince is a little flippant. Granted he fits into the overall funk narrative, the "Minneappolis Sound" was innovative and Sign O' The Times is the last great double album.
13 - Eric Olsen
A bit flippant perhaps - I was not trying to minimize Prince's value or importance, just saying his approach was blueprint Sly - he has sure done it well and for a much longer period of time.
14 - Bill Truran
I LOVE The Essential Sly & The Family Stone.
Who has ever made more happy music? What great life affirming music. THANKS Sly & the Family for all you have done. I look forward to what you will be doing.
15 - Eric Olsen
Bill, thanks, I certainly agree about the music. Unless something changes drastically - and it may be too late for that - I don't foresee much new coming together, but you never know.
16 - NICK MARSHALL
IS SLY STILL ALIVE
17 - Eric Olsen
yes he is
18 - Nikisha
can someone please tell me the name on this particular album cover if you recognize it. I have a pic, but I cant make out the words. I will email it to anyone if you think you can help. Thanks a lot!
19 - griff
Let Sly know that we stll love him and his music and thanks for giving many a happy high.
Can I email Sly?
20 - Eric Olsen
Maybe he will see this - I do not know how to contact him.
21 - HW Saxton Jr.
Eric,I really dig Sly & The Family Stone
too.I think that you may be going out on
a limb a little by their inclusion on
your Top Ten list of the Greatest R'n'R
artistes of all time but I'm with you on
your decision 100 percent.
I would've liked to have seen Mr. James
Brown & The JB's on your list as well as
Sly.I feel they have definitely got more
of a claim to the throne than does,let's
say U2). Only time will bear me out on
this I suppose.
The body of music left behind by Sly and
his group not withstanding,I really do
think that Sly's greatest accomplishment
may be his making Funk,R and B and Soul
music readily accessible.By way of some
radio friendly(AM & FM)tunes,a racially
mixed ensemble and very highly energized
live performances,a lot of people who
wouldn't normally listen to those genres
did.
Sly's mixing of (alongside those of War,
Santana, Charles Wright & The 103rd St.
Watts Rhythm Band,Tower Of Power & other
multi-racial groups of the day)Pop,Rock,
Soul and Funk helped to lay down the
foundations for Prince, Michael Jackson
(post J5) and The Red Hot Chili Peppers
to name but a few artistes whose music
reflects the influence of Mr. Sylvester
Stone.
It's too bad the drugs and his personal
problems got the best of him, depriving
the world of his many talents. We still
have his musical legacy though and IMHO
that's what counts in the big picture.
22 - Eric Olsen
Thanks HW, I'm glad we generally agree on this. I was debating JB but finally I decided there was more than one James Brown band, that they kind of mutated over time, and that Sly was much closer to the "rock" theme musically and conceptually than James, who was very clearly in the R&B revue tradition.
23 - Hope
One of the greatstes of all times.
24 - Eric Olsen
I agree, Hope, thanks.
25 - Nick Graveline
Sly & the Family Stone is the greatest band ever to grace the world of music. i'm only a freshman in high school, and I had never heard anything by them beyond what the radio played. My uncle lent me their greatest hits, and i couldn't believe what i was missing. Their Essential cd is amazing. If The Family could reunite with Sly as the frontman, then maybe my generation could experience the musical genius that has been missing for too long.