Sly Stone, the legendary funk-rock icon and frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, has passed away at the age of 82, according to a statement from his family.
The statement revealed that he had been fighting a long battle with COPD, a chronic lung disease.
Born Sylvester Stewart, Stone’s musical journey began in his youth, singing gospel alongside his siblings. His career skyrocketed after he performed at the historic Woodstock music festival in 1969.
Before his fame, Stone worked as a radio DJ in San Francisco, where he and his band later achieved stardom with chart-topping hits like “It’s a Family Affair” and “If You Want Me to Stay.”
A true pioneer of funk music, Stone was celebrated for seamlessly blending psychedelia, funk, rock, and soul, all while sporting his iconic bold style and voluminous hair.
Below is a collection of images capturing moments from his remarkable life.
![Sly Stone [ Getty Images ]](https://globalnewsone.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image.png "Sly Stone: The Funky Life – Through Pictures 5")
![Before Sly Stone, the young Sylvester Stewart started out as a radio DJ in San Francisco, California. [ Getty Images ]](https://globalnewsone.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-1.png "Sly Stone: The Funky Life – Through Pictures 6")
![Sly formed his eponymous band, Sly and the Family Stone, in the late 60s. Here, they are pictured in concert in 1973 – tambourine, flares and all. [ Getty Images ]](https://globalnewsone.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-2.png "Sly Stone: The Funky Life – Through Pictures 7")
![If You Want Me To Stay was one of the band's most famous songs, released in 1973 on the album Fresh. The band are pictured recording together that year, with Sly in the middle of the group. [ Getty Images ]](https://globalnewsone.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-3.png "Sly Stone: The Funky Life – Through Pictures 8")
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