Sly Stone: A Life In Pictures

The funk and soul maverick Sly Stone, known for his undeniable influence with his band Sly and the Family Stone, died on Monday after  a “prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues,” according to a statement by his family. He leaves behind a decades-long legacy, marked by the band’s rise in the late Sixties and performances that came to represent a radical, progressive take on psych-rock and soul.

Sly started making music as a kid with his siblings. He gained some local fame as a producer and a disc jockey in the Bay Area, eventually helping to form Sly and the Family Stone. In their early years, the band rose to prominence with era- and genre-defining hits, including “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” Sly stood out as the trailblazing frontman, making his musicianship and his unique style known to fans everywhere.

However, in the Seventies, the band slowly disintegrated following simmering tensions. Sly faced difficulties due to drug use and erratic behavior; he’d continue making music and touring into the Eighties. However, his public appearances became less frequent, save for Grammy performance in 2006 and a Coachella set in 2010 that ended early. In more recent years, he experienced a resurgence, as several contemporary artists cited him as an inspiration and Questlove made him the subject of the documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius. Here’s a look at Sly’s life through the decades.