One of the Greats, Sly Stone, Has Passed

[Geoff Grace]

Sly Stone, pioneering leader of funk band Sly and the Family Stone, dies at 82

I wish my words could do justice to this creative genius who had a big impact on me. Sly was my favorite artist of one of my favorite genres of music. Not only did he transform and expand the language of funk, he transformed and expanded the makeup of bands with his ethnically and gender inclusive Family Stone that defied the segregation of the time. My first professional band I was in had the same variety: a group centered around a family, with extra musicians, like myself, who were treated like family. We had male and female members and were ethnically diverse. We weren’t consciously trying to copy Sly and the Family Stone, but we looked a lot like them. Later on, so did Prince and the Revolution.

Not only did Sly give us inclusivity, he featured Larry Graham, who created the slap bass technique, which became a staple of funk. Sly wanted to take us higher, and he did exactly that in so many ways. The obvious answer was through drugs, but he also lifted us higher by bringing us together—not just in the way I mentioned earlier, but also through his unique mixture of musical styles and elements. (Listen to his cover of “Que Sera, Sera” for just one of many examples.) My favorite musical example of Sly lifting us higher is in his song “Stand!” which not only lifts us lyrically, it literally takes us higher with the chords and melodic path in the chorus, which finally delivers us into a funky nirvana at the end of the song.

As for my favorite Sly song, don’t ask; there are just way too many examples. I mean, how could I choose between “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Can’t Strain My Brain,” “Everybody is a Star,” “Loose Booty,” “Everyday People,” “Family Affair,” “Sing a Simple Song,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” “If You Want Me to Stay,” and “Heard You Missed Me, Well I’m Back,” to name a few … and that doesn’t include “Dance to the Music,” “Runnin’ Away,” “(You Caught Me) Smilin’,” “M’Lady,” and of course, “I Want to Take You Higher.” This may seem like a long list, but I feel guilty for leaving so many gems out.

I am glad that Sly had a Keith Richards level of ability to survive drug abuse and that he lived long enough to see Questlove’s moving documentary Sly Lives! (AKA The Burden of Black Genius), which was a fitting tribute that only fell short by not giving much weight to Sly’s great 70s albums. I only wish that we could have heard more from him during his later years, but I’m more than grateful for what he gave us. It’s a lasting legacy that I continue to draw inspiration from.

Thank you, Sly, for being mice elf agin. May you make more great music on a higher plane.

RIP, Sylvester Stewart (AKA Sly Stone)

Best,

Geoff

[Lawrence]

Geoff,

Fantastic tribute to one of my favorite artists of all time. Sly was the coolest, the best, the baddest. He brought the funk, he brought the energy, he brought the soul, the song writing and everything else.

I love the fact that you highlighted his version of “Que Sera Sera”, because that’s always been one of my favorite moments-the moment when his voice enters the chorus is just incredible.

R.I.P., Sly.

[Geoff Grace]

Thanks, Larry. Yeah, that's a beautiful moment. It's funny that I get so focused on Sly the songwriter, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist, I sometimes forget about Sly the singer; but his voice, both as a singer and as a message giver, was very powerful.

Best,

Geoff