Sly Stone, the iconic funk musician and leader of Sly and the family Stone, has died at the age of 82, Variety reports.

His family confirmed the news in an official statement.

“After a prolonged battle with COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family,” the statement read. “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.”

The family’s statement continued, “Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music. His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world,and his influence remains undeniable. In a testament to his enduring creative spirit, Sly recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course, which follows a memoir published in 2024.”

Born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, in 1943, his family later moved to California. He began singing in the church choir at age 4 with his siblings and gained local recognition in high school bands before studying music theory at Solano Community College. After college, he worked as a DJ for San Francisco’s KSOL.

The Rise of Sly and the Family Stone

“Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music.”

In the late 1960s, Sly and the Family stone was formed with his brother Freddie Stone, sister Rose Stone, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, drummer Greg Errico, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and bassist Larry Graham. This groundbreaking group was one of the frist major multi-gender, interracial bands. They blended funk, rock, and psychedelic soul, releasing their debut album, A Whole New Thing, in 1967.

Their first single, “Dance to the Music,” was released in 1967, followed by the album of the same name the next year. In 1969, Stand became their biggest success, featuring classics such as “everyday People,” “Hot fun in the Summertime” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”/”Everybody Is a Star.” The band also delivered a legendary performance at Woodstock that year.

Despite further hits and influential albums like Greatest Hits in 1970 and Ther’s a Riot goin’ On in 1971, Sly’s drug use led to the band’s disintegration. His unreliability in attending concerts became notorious, and the group officially disbanded in 1975.

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

In later years, Sly remained largely out of the public eye, rarely performing due to his struggles with addiction.

He released his memoir,Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),in 2023,named after the band’s classic 1970 single.

earlier this year, a documentary about his life and career, Sly Lives: aka the Burden of Black Genius, directed by Questlove, was released. The film features commentary from Black artists discussing their experiences with success and its challenges.