Sly Stone: 1943-2025
Thoughts on an American Musical Genius and How His Work Inspires Me As I Prepare for Saturday's No Kings March
Sly Stone's legacy to American music and culture looms large. The singer-songwriter's passing will bring even more people to his music that inspired musicians ranging from Prince, The Roots, Questlove, Rick James, Madonna and The Black Eye Peas.
The first song of his I heard as a child, which remains one of my favorites, was the classic “Everyday People.” I even use it in my teaching to help first year college writing students understand the single word “everyday” is only used as an adjective. You’d be amazing how many do not know the difference between “everyday” and “every day.”
He fused gospel with rock, soul and psychedelia. Because of his genius, the now defunct Crawdaddy magazine crowned Stone the founder of Progressive Soul.1
Stone, born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, began his career in music as a producer and radio DJ. Before embarking on those jobs, he was already accomplished in playing multiple instruments and composing.
Not only did he break musical genres and create new ones, but he made his band mixed race and mixed gender. TACO and goons would definitely freak out and ban his work, proclaiming Sly and the Family Stone nothing more than DEIA agenda.
Stone's song lyrics s showcased his open-mindedness, sense of empowerment and politics. Three such songs are “Stand,” “Don't Call Me N*****, Whitey,” “Everybody Is a Star” and “Family Affair.”
Questlove's documentaries, the Oscar-winning Summer of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) and Sly Lives! (AKA The Burden of Black Genius) bring Sly Stone's music to new generations and reminds The Silent Generation, Baby Boomers and Gen X what he gave to us and the rest of the world.
Decades ago his work inspired me as a little girl as I hope it inspires you. Part of why I express myself and views is because of Sly Stone. He used art to bring forth his message and actions.
Along with expressing myself in words and fine art photography (I plan to take my first formal class next month), I also engage with peaceful protests. Sly Stone envisioned a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible world that I not only want to live in but fight for.
That is why I am marching Saturday. For the past week I have been working on new protest signs for Saturday's No Kings Protest and March. Click on the link here to find a No Kings March near you on June 14.
My daughter is the visual artist, but because of her Senn Arts finals, she could not help me with my signs. Her one contribution though was to tell me I should make COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF all in red so it stood out in my message.
I plan to print out photographs to enhance my billboard. They will include an upside down U.S. flag, a TACO picture and U.S. folk singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie with his guitar that also reads “This Machine Kills Fascists”
With TACO violating the boundary between federal and state by calling up 4,000 California National Guard troops an 700 Marines, it's game on. This is not a rehearsal. Like Steve Earl wrote, “The Revolution Starts Now.” (Album art by Tony Fitzpatrick.)
Rubiner, Julia M. (1992). Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music. Vol. 8. Gale Research. p. 257.