Sly Stone, funk and soul icon, dead at 82

Image Courtesy of SoulTracks

Sylvester Stewart, known for his innovative style and leadership of Sly and the Family Stone, died June 9 at the age of 82.

Better known as Sly Stone, Sylvester was a songwriter, producer and an entertainer in addition to being a pioneer in blending music into his own signature style.

Sly and the Family Stone is known for "Dance to the Music," "Everyday People," "Hot Fun in the Summertime," and "Thank You." Sly was considered "a musical prodigy," due to his ability to play a multitude of instruments - and play them well. He was originally a guitar player in the band, but he also mastered the keyboard, drums, and bass guitar.

The Family Stone was the first American rock band to be described as racially integrated.

In addition to being wildly popular and climbing the Billboard charts, Sly and the Family Stone made an iconic appearance at the Woodstock festival in 1969. The band played after Janis Joplin and before The Who.

In the early 1970s, however, excess and addiction would steal the success of the band. Stone himself admitted to addiction, and, while the band would produce more albums in the 1970s, the band would never again see the success it had in 1969. At the same time, the band's music became timeless - Everyday People has been featured on countless television shows, in movie soundtracks, and inspired Arrested Development's 1992 "People Everyday."

Sly and the Family Stone was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Stone had endured "a prolonged battle with COPD" as well as underlying health issues that contributed to his passing on June 9. His family noted that a documentary detailing the life and story of Stone and the band is in the works, but no release date has been announced.