Sly Stone is almost like a mythical figure in music. He has been rarely seen or heard from since his days on top of the music scene some 50+ years ago. Yet the trails he blazed are still being felt today!
This February on Hulu, the Questlove produced documentary, Sly Lives! (aka The Black Burden of Black Genius), will feature one of the most influential musicians of our lifetime, Sly Stone. From his humble beginning as a young church prodigy to his years after the success dried up, it will all be discussed in this eye-popping piece.
Sylvester Stewart AKA Sly Stone was born, north of Dallas in Denton, Texas on March 15, 1943. His family moved from Denton to Vallejo California, located near Oakland. As a youngster, he was heavily involved in his family’s church and mastered many instruments including the drums, keyboards, bass, and guitar.
Sly joined many groups and bands throughout his high school days. He also became a local disc jockey at San Franciso’s KSOL, as the Swingin’ Soul Brother, and later on KDIA in Oakland.
Sly had a stint early on as a songwriter and record producer for several artists. He produced tunes for pianist Billy Preston, as well as Bobby Freeman’s “C’Mon and Swim,” a top-five charting single on the pop charts in 1964.
Sly merged his band with his younger brother Freddie’s band creating possibly the first interracial and
multi-gender band at a time when racial tension in America was high. A few of their influential hits
include number-one pop singles “Everyday People, “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),”
“Everybody Is a Star,” and “Family Affair.” Sly’s songwriting, musicianship, and style were just a few things
that others picked up along the way.
As the 1970s turned into the 1980s, Sly’s career took a complete 180. Sporadic appearances and
recordings over the years would highlight the latter half of his career and life.
The Sly Lives! (aka The Black Burden of Black Genius) contains interviews with members of Sly & The Family Stone, including legendary bassist Larry Graham, drummer Greg Errico, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and sister, keyboardist Rose. Peers like George Clinton, Nile Rogers of Chic, Chaka Khan of Rufus fame, and his legion of followers like OutKast’s Andree 3000, Vernon Reid of black rock band Living Colour, music producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, D’Angelo, and recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest.
Sly & The Family Stone were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Thank You
(Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) A Memoir came in 2023.
Music director of The Tonight Show and The Roots member Questlove, serves as director of the documentary. Joseph Patel and Derik Murray are the producers and Josh Pearson editor. Executive producers include Questlove, Two One Five Entertainment Inc., Common, Stardust Films LLC, RadicalMedia, MRC, Network Entertainment Inc., and ID8 Multimedia Inc. in association
with Sony Music Entertainment.
Sly Lives! (aka The Black Burden of Black Genius), premiers February 13th on the Hulu streaming
platform.
Check out the trailer here.
