Happy Birthday Sly Stone
Sylvester Stewart was born Marc 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas. Sylvester was the sixth of the family’s five children. He got the nickname Sly from a neighbor, Bubba Hossenfeffer. Sylvester would always steal Bubba’s chickens and the man would say that little rascal is Sly like a fox. Or something like that. Bubba had ill fitting wooden teeth and no one could understand a word he said. He was most likely cursing the young boy.
Little Sylvester was identified as a musical prodigy. By the time he was seven, Sylvester had already become proficient on the keyboards, and by the age of eleven, he had mastered the guitar, bass, flugelhorn, triangle, tambourine, kazoo and drums as well. While still in high school, Sylvester had settled primarily on the guitar and joined a number of high school bands.
Psychedelic Funk Soul
Along with James Brown and Chubby Checker, Sly and the Family Stone were pioneers of late 1960s and early ’70s funk. The fusion of R&B rhythms, infectious melodies, and psychedelia created a new pop/soul/rock hybrid, the impact of which has proven lasting and widespread. In other words they invented Psychedelic funk soul.
A once in a lifetime event, Sly and the Family Stone, a racially integrated, mixed-gender act changed the world. The group would score hits including “Dance to the Music” (1968), “Everyday People” (1968), “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (1969), “I Want to Take You Higher” (1969) “Family Affair” (1971) and “If You Want Me to Stay” (1973) and acclaimed albums including Stand! (1969), There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971) and Fresh (1973). They were one of the biggest musical acts in the world.
As the drug use increased, Sly’s behavior got increasingly erratic. In 1971, he missed 96 out of 95 gigs. He was snorting cocaine and smoking PCP. The band hired a violin player to come on tour but he didn’t play the violin. His violin case was filled with cocaine. That was his only job. Carry the violin case filled with cocaine.
Stone married model-actress Kathy Silva on June 5, 1974, during a sold-out performance at MSG. They were divorced by the end of the show. Sly dropped out of the public eye and was eventually found living in a van down by the river. He then successfully sued his corrupt managers and lawyers and won $5 Million. He bought a nice new van and still lives by the river. God bless you, you genius madman. Thank You for the music sir. Cheers Sly and many happy returns.
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