Legendary Funk Architect Sly Stone Dies at 82

 

Sly and the Family Stone pose for a 1968 publicity photo, with Sly Stone second from left. Photo distributed by Epic Records, Daedalus Management, and William Morris Agency, Inc. Photographer uncredited.

Sly Stone, whose genre-defying work with Sly and the Family Stone helped shape soul, funk, and rock music, died today. He was 82.

Sly Stone didn’t just make music—he made history. SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) premiering January 23 at the 2025 #Sundance Film Festival. @hulu pic.twitter.com/0RVjibp8UW

— Sundance Film Festival (@sundancefest) January 22, 2025

“After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend and his extended family,” his family said in a statement. “While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.”

………and The Family Stone Rest In Beats SLY pic.twitter.com/sdUx9ob1Mw

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) June 9, 2025

Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, in 1943, Stone rose from Pentecostal gospel roots to become one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He formed Sly and the Family Stone in 1966, blending soul, psychedelic rock, gospel and funk into a sound that was as politically pointed as it was danceable.

The group’s multicultural lineup and genre-mashing style broke boundaries both sonically and socially. Hits like “Everyday People,” “Family Affair,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” “Dance to the Music” and “Hot Fun in the Summertime” became anthems of unity, joy and protest.

Their 1971 album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” — created largely by Stone alone using early drum machine technology — remains a landmark work, widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time.

RIP to Sly Stone. Innovator, funk aficionado, and frontman of Sly & The Family Stone pic.twitter.com/W2DlX8GIci

— Queer Latifah 🥂 (@TheAfrocentricI) June 9, 2025

Sly and the Family Stone performed at both Woodstock and the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969, cementing their cultural importance during a period of musical revolution. The band’s 1969 album “Stand!” sold more than 3 million copies and helped define the emerging funk genre alongside James Brown and George Clinton.

Stone’s career began in the Bay Area as a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and DJ, known for his work with garage rock and psychedelic acts. His early group, the Stewart Four, released a gospel single in 1952, but it was with the formation of the Family Stone that he found his voice as an artist and icon.

By the mid-1970s, however, Stone’s career was marked by erratic behavior, missed performances, and increasing drug use. The band fractured, and Stone released albums largely solo under the group’s name, including 1975’s “High on You” and 1982’s “Ain’t But the One Way.”

Legal troubles and financial struggles followed. In 2011, reports revealed that Stone was living in a camper van in Los Angeles. Though he claimed it was by choice, it underscored the decline of the once-radical innovator.

Still, he was never forgotten. In 2006, Stone made a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards during a tribute performance. In 2015, he was awarded $5 million in a lawsuit over unpaid royalties — though the full amount was never realized due to contractual limitations.

His memoir, “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” was published in 2024 to critical acclaim. A screenplay based on his life was reportedly completed shortly before his death.

Stone is survived by his children, Sylvester Jr., Sylvyette, and Novena Carmel. He was briefly married to Kathy Silva in the 1970s.

R&B Trailblazer Wayne Lewis, Co-Founder of Atlantic Starr, Dies at 68

Wayne Lewis, co-founder, vocalist and keyboardist for Atlantic Starr, is shown in an undated photo shared by the band alongside the June 6 announcement of his death. He was 68. (Courtesy Atlantic Starr/Facebook)

Wayne Lewis, the smooth-voiced keyboardist, co-founder, and creative engine behind Atlantic Starr, died. He was 68.

The band announced his passing on its official Facebook page, writing, “It’s with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025. Please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy.” The post also paid tribute to his legacy with a reference to his birth and death dates: “Sunrise 4/13/1957, Sunset 6/5/2025.”

A cause of death was not revealed.

Born in White Plains, New York, Lewis helped launch Atlantic Starr with his brothers David and Jonathan in 1976. The group, originally known as Newban, went on to become one of the most iconic R&B acts of the 1980s, fusing slick pop sensibilities with lush harmonies and soul-driven storytelling.

Atlantic Starr - “If Your Heart Isn’t In It”

A Quiet Storm staple with the late Wayne Lewis on lead with Barbara Weathers.

pic.twitter.com/ftE57VDRBK

— Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) June 8, 2025

Wayne Lewis contributed vocals and keyboards to a string of Atlantic Starr’s biggest hits. Among them: “Secret Lovers,” “Circles,” “Touch a Four Leaf Clover,” “Am I Dreaming” and their 1987 chart-topping ballad “Always,” which spent weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since become a wedding playlist staple across generations.

As one of the group's core vocalists and musical arrangers, Lewis helped shape the band’s signature sound alongside heavyweight producers like James Anthony Carmichael, known for his work with Lionel Richie and the Commodores.

Atlantic Starr released their self-titled debut album in 1978 via A&M Records. Over the years, the group evolved through multiple lineup changes, but Lewis remained a constant until recent years, helping steer the band through three decades of performances and 13 studio albums.

His final contributions appeared on the group’s 2017 album "Metamorphosis."

Wayne Lewis is survived by his family, including brothers David and Jonathan, who helped him build a sound that continues to echo across quiet storm radio and slow-jam playlists worldwide.

Diana Ross Tapped to Launch Royal Caribbean’s Latest Family Cruise Ship

Diana Ross, 80, center, poses in her Met Gala gown embroidered with the names of her five children and eight grandchildren in this family portrait taken by Dennis Gocer. The 18-foot feathered shawl reportedly required six helpers—though compared to christening a 250,000-ton cruise ship, that’s light lifting. Ross was named godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, which launches August 31. (Photo by Dennis Gocer/The Collective You, via dianaross.com)

Diana Ross, icon of stage, screen and sequined glamour, is trading the concert hall for the high seas this August — because 2025 wasn’t surreal enough already.

Royal Caribbean officially tapped Ross as the godmother of its new mega-cruise ship, Star of the Seas, on Thursday. Yes, godmother. Not to a child, but to a 250,800-ton floating resort with Broadway-style musicals, 40-plus places to eat and drink, and something ominously called the Category 6 waterpark. In accordance with maritime tradition, Ross will "bless" the ship and its future vacationers during a naming ceremony. Instead of breaking hearts, she’ll break a bottle of champagne against the hull — same drama, fewer costume changes.

Ross — already mother to five and unofficial godmother to most of the Motown diaspora — seems like a natural pick. Who better to bestow safe passage on a floating palace of excess than the woman who turned a sequined gown into a personality trait? "Love Hangover" may be about heartbreak, but let’s be honest: it could easily be the ship’s signature cocktail by August.

"I am truly honored to join the Royal Caribbean family," Ross said in a statement that reads smoother than a poolside piña colada. "Having spent years creating beautiful music and memories and bringing people together from all over the world, this feels like a perfect continuation of my journey."

That journey now includes presiding over what’s being marketed as the world’s best family vacation — a ship so big it has its own neighborhoods, including the AquaDome, a sort of glass-encased wonderland featuring ocean views and Cirque-du-Soleil-style performances. Also onboard? A stage adaptation of "Back to the Future," because apparently, time travel and cruise buffets do mix.

Ross will be on hand when Star of the Seas launches from Port Canaveral in Florida, on August 31, setting sail on 7-night voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean with guaranteed stops at Royal Caribbean’s overachieving private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Yes, that’s the real name. No, you’re not dreaming.

Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley called Ross a perfect fit for the ship’s vibe of joy and multigenerational magic. "We couldn’t imagine a more fitting godmother," he said. "Diana Ross is a true icon known for creating music that transcends generations while celebrating life and bringing people together." Basically, she's the human version of the ship’s mood board.

Ross’s duties are symbolic — think vibes, not lifeboat drills. But the role still comes with weight: it’s a blessing of good fortune, smooth seas, and zero karaoke mishaps for the thousands of passengers expected to come aboard.

So, if you’ve been longing for a vacation blessed by a disco legend, curated by a cruise line that thinks bigger is always better, your ship quite literally comes in this August. Diana Ross, diva of the deep, is ready to rule the waves — and this time, you can follow her lead in flip-flops.