Sly and the Family Stone

Sly & the Family Stone harnessed all the musical and social trends of the late '60s, creating a wild, brilliant fusion of soul, rock, R&B, psychedelia, and funk that transcended boundaries. Led by Sly Stone, the Family Stone was composed of men and women, blacks and whites, making the band the first fully integrated group in rock's history. Before Stone, very few soul and R&B groups delved into political and social commentary; after him, it became a tradition in soul, funk, and hip-hop. Along with James Brown, Stone brought hard funk into the mainstream. The Family Stone's arrangements were ingenious, filled with unexpected group vocals, syncopated rhythms, punchy horns, and pop melodies. Their music was joyous, but as the '60s ended, so did the good times. Stone became disillusioned with the ideals he had been preaching in his music and developed addictions to a variety of drugs. His music gradually grew slower and darker, culminating in 1971's There's a Riot Going On, which set the pace for '70s funk with its elastic bass, slurred vocals, and militant Black Power stance. Stone was able to turn out one more modern funk classic, 1973's Fresh, before slowly succumbing to his addictions. Nevertheless, his music continued to provide the basic template for urban soul, funk, and even hip-hop well into the '90s.