TrueStar Staff 
Surrounded by family and loved ones, musical innovator, Black icon and cultural trailblazer, Sly Stone, lost his battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on June 9, 2025.
Sly Stone was born Sylvester Stewart on March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas. Growing up in a Christian family, the church was integral to his musical beginnings. Sly’s parents moved the family to California, where he and his siblings performed gospel music in church as the “Stewart Four.” Sly mastered vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard, and harmonica early on in his career. In the 1960s, he worked as a DJ on Bay Area radio and produced for local bands before forming the trailblazing, racially and gender-integrated band, Sly & the Family Stone, in 1966.
Sly revolutionized music by infusing the genres of funk, soul, rock, psychedelic, and gospel together. With his band, Sly delivered classics like “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Family Affair,” defining a sound that was both socially conscious and groovy. Their 1969 album Stand! sold over three million copies and has been enshrined in the National Recording Registry and the Grammy Hall of Fame. There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971) marked a major shift as it introduced darker, introspective funk that resonated deeply during a turbulent era and is widely considered one of the greatest albums ever. Sly Stone wasn’t simply a musician; he was a musical icon, influencing artists from Prince and Public Enemy to Beck and countless others.
Sly quietly endured private health struggles toward the end of his life. On social media, his family shared: “After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family. While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.”
Sly Stone’s life was a symphony of brilliance, struggle, and innovation. He broke musical and social barriers, crafting a genre-defying sound that remains influential. Though his life ended after decades of personal hardship, his music endures, echoing unity, revolution, and soulfulness. As we remember him, we continue to dance to the music he created, and remain forever changed, grateful, and uplifted by his legacy.
To learn more about Sly Stone, check out Quest Love’s documentary about his life, Sly Lives! (The Burden of Black Genius) on Hulu.
By DeJae
