Crate Diggers: Happy Birthday Sly Stone

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Happy Birthday Sly Stone

“Stand, you've been sitting much too long, there's a permanent crease in your right or wrong” - Sly Stone
(Sly Stone)
Sly Stone was born as Sylvester Stewart on March 15th, 1943 in Denton, Texas, USA. After Stewart was born his family moved to Vallejo, CA. Stewart and his siblings formed a Gospel band and performed at their church. At 7 years old Stewart had already become proficient on the keyboards.  In 1952 Stewart and his siblings recorded a single called “On the Battlefield”. By the age of 11 he had mastered the guitar, bass, and drums. In high school Stewart was in multiple bands. 1 group Stewart was in he was one of the 2 non white members of the band, this gave him the idea of an interracial band later in life. In the mid 1960’s Stewart became a disk jockey in San Francisco, CA. He then adopted the name Sly Stone. In 1966 he formed a group called The Stoners. Later he formed the band Sly and the Family Stone, which included Cynthia Robinson, Larry Graham, Greg Errico, and Jerry Martini.
(Stone in 1967)
In 1968 they had their 1st hit "Dance to the Music". In 1969 their album “Stand!” was a major hit which sold over 3 million copies.
(Sly and the Family Stone)
The group then performed at the concert Woodstock.
(Stone performing at Woodstock)
In the same year the band started to get involved in heavy drugs. From 1969 to 1971 the band only released 1 single due to being wrapped up in drugs. The single “Thank You” reached #1 on the pop charts in 1970. After moving to Los Angeles, CA Stone’s behavior became more erratic. Their 5th album released in 1971, “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” was mostly done by Stone, with him doing most of the instruments and most of the vocals. In 1973 Bob Marley and the Wailers opened up for Sly and the Family Stone. The group's 1973 and 1974 albums featured more of Stone and less of the band. They became pioneers of Funk and R&B. By 1975 the group’s famed declined. As a solo artist Stone went on to record 5 albums.
(Stone in 1975)
In 1981 Stone collaborated with George Clinton. In 1983 Stone was arrested in Fort Myers, FL, and charged with cocaine possession. In 1984 Stone toured with Bobby Womack.
(Sly Stone (Left) and Bobby Womack (Right))
In 1986 Stone collaborated with Jesse Johnson. Stone's racial, sexual, and stylistic mix, had a major influence in the 1980s on artists such as Prince and Rick James. In 1990 Stone collaborated with Earth, Wind & Fire. In 1993 Sly and the Family Stone was entered into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Artists like Public Enemy, Fatboy Slim, Beck, Beastie Boys and LL Cool J sampled many of Stone’s songs. At the 2006 Grammy Awards Stone gave his first live musical performance since 1987.
(Stone performing in 2006)
Stone filed suit against Jerry Goldstein, the former manager of Sly and the Family Stone for $50 million in January 2010. In January 2015, a Los Angeles, CA jury ruled in favor of Stone, awarding him $5 million.
(Stone in 2015)
Today is his 74th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday Sly Stone.

Albums including Sly Stone
  • “A Whole New Thing” (1967)
  • “Dance to the Music” (1968)
  • “Life” (1968)
  • “Stand!” (1969)
  • “There’s A Riot Goin’ On” (1971)
  • “Fresh” (1973)
  • “Small Talk” (1974)
  • “High On You” (1975)
  • “Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back” (1976)
  • “Back on the Right Track” (1979)
  • “Ain’t but the One Way” (1982)
  • “I’m Back! Family & Friends” (2011)
  • “This Day In Music History” (2015)
Videos of Sly Stone

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