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Encyclopedia > Sly and the Family Stone

Sly & the Family Stone
Sly & the Family Stone in 1969, photographed by their A&R director, Stephen Paley. Clockwise from top: Larry Graham, Freddie Stone, Gregg Errico, Sly Stone, Rose Stone, Cynthia Robinson, and Jerry Martini. A photograph from this same session was used as the cover of Rolling Stone #54 (March 19, 1970).
Sly & the Family Stone in 1969, photographed by their A&R director, Stephen Paley. Clockwise from top: Larry Graham, Freddie Stone, Gregg Errico, Sly Stone, Rose Stone, Cynthia Robinson, and Jerry Martini. A photograph from this same session was used as the cover of Rolling Stone #54 (March 19, 1970).
Background information
Origin San Francisco, California, USA
Genre(s) Funk, soul, rock
Years active 1967–1975, 1976–1983
Label(s) Epic, Warner Bros.
Associated
acts
The Original Family Stone Little Sister
Website www.slystonemusic.com, www.familystonemusic.com
Former members
Sly Stone
Freddie Stone
Rose Stone
Cynthia Robinson
Gregg Errico
Jerry Martini
Larry Graham
Vet Stone
Mary McCreary
Elva Mouton
Gerry Gibson
Rusty Allen
Pat Rizzo
Andy Newmark
Bill Lordan
Vicki Blackwell
Jim Strassburg
"Stone Flower" redirects here. For the Antonio Carlos Jobim album of that name, see Stone Flower (album).

Sly & the Family Stone were an American rock band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1967 until 1975, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk and psychedelia. Headed by singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone, and containing a number of his family members and friends, the band was the first major American rock band to have a multicultural lineup, giving African-Americans, White Americans, males, and females all roles in the band's instrumentation. Image File history File links Sly-family-stone-1969-promo. ... Larry Graham on the cover of his 1981 LP Just Be My Lady. ... Freddie Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Dance to the Music, December 28, 1968. ... Greg Errico (also spelled Gregg Errico, born September 1, 1949 in San Francisco, California) is an Italian-American musician, best known for being the drummer for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone until 1971. ... Sly Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Everyday People, December 28, 1968. ... Rose Stone (or Rosie Stone, born Rosemary Stewart on March 21, 1945 in Vallejo, California) is an African-American singer and keyboardist. ... Cynthia Robinson (born January 12, 1946 in Sacramento, California) is an African-American musician, best known for being the trumpetist in the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... Jerry Martini (born October 1, 1943 in Colorado) is an American musician, best known for being the saxophonist for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... Rolling Stone is an American magazine devoted to music, politics and popular culture. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Nickname: The City by the Bay; Fog City Location of the City and County of San Francisco, California Coordinates: Country United States of America State California City-County San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Area    - City 122 km²  (47 sq mi)  - Land 121. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ... Soul Music is the sixteenth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, published in 1994. ... Rock is a form of popular music from the mid 20th century which typically features a vocal melody (often with vocal harmony) that is supported by accompaniment of electric guitars, a bass guitar, and drums, often with a strong back beat. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Epic Records is an American record label, and subsidiary of Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ... Warner Bros. ... Little Sister was an American all-female vocal harmony group, which served primarily as the background vocalists for the influential rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone in concert and on record. ... Sly Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Everyday People, December 28, 1968. ... Freddie Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Dance to the Music, December 28, 1968. ... Rose Stone (or Rosie Stone, born Rosemary Stewart on March 21, 1945 in Vallejo, California) is an African-American singer and keyboardist. ... Cynthia Robinson (born January 12, 1946 in Sacramento, California) is an African-American musician, best known for being the trumpetist in the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... Greg Errico (also spelled Gregg Errico, born September 1, 1949 in San Francisco, California) is an Italian-American musician, best known for being the drummer for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone until 1971. ... Jerry Martini (born October 1, 1943 in Colorado) is an American musician, best known for being the saxophonist for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... Larry Graham on the cover of his 1981 LP Just Be My Lady. ... Vet Stone (born Vaetta Stewart in 1949 in Vallejo, California) is an African-American soul singer, the lead singer in Sly & the Family Stones background group Little Sister (the group name derives from the fact that she is the little sister of frontman Sly Stone. ... Rusty Allen (born in 1953) is an African-American musician, best known as the bass guitar player for influential funk band Sly & the Family Stone from 1972 to 1975. ... Pat Rizzo is an American musician, best known as a saxophonist for influential funk band Sly & the Family Stone from 1972 to 1975. ... Andy Newmark is an American musician, best known as the drummer for influential funk band Sly & the Family Stone from 1973 to 1975. ... Bill Lordan is a rock music drummer who has been in a number of bands, such as The Mystics, Gypsy, and Robin Trower Band. ... Antonio Carlos Jobim (born Antonio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim, January 25, 1927 in Rio de Janeiro – December 8, 1994 in New York City), also known as Tom Jobim, was a Brazilian composer, arranger, singer, pianist and one of the greatest legends of the bossa nova era. ... Stone Flower is a 1972 album (see 1972 in music) by Antonio Carlos Jobim. ... Rock is a form of popular music from the mid 20th century which typically features a vocal melody (often with vocal harmony) that is supported by accompaniment of electric guitars, a bass guitar, and drums, often with a strong back beat. ... Nickname: The City by the Bay; Fog City Location of the City and County of San Francisco, California Coordinates: Country United States of America State California City-County San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Area    - City 122 km²  (47 sq mi)  - Land 121. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Soul Music is the sixteenth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, published in 1994. ... Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ... Psychedelia is a term describing a category of music, visual art, fashion, and culture that is associated originally with the high 1960s, hippies, and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, California. ... Ercole de Roberti: Concert, c. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the performers, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes . ... A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments. ... Sly Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Everyday People, December 28, 1968. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... The term White American refers primarily to Americans of European descent residing in the United States. ...


Brothers Sly Stone and singer/guitarist Freddie Stone had combined their bands (Sly & the Stoners and Freddie & the Stone Souls) in 1967. As a result, the two brothers were joined by trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, and drummer Gregg Errico. Saxophonist Jerry Martini and bassist Larry Graham completed the original lineup, and within a year, Sly and Freddie's sister, singer/keyboardist Rose Stone, joined as well. This collective were a major influence on the sound of American pop music in general and soul, R&B, funk, and later hip hop music in particular, recording five Top 10 hits and four groundbreaking albums. In the preface of his book on the band, For the Record: Sly and the Family Stone: An Oral History, Joel Selvin sums up the importance of Sly & the Family Stone's influences on African-American music by stating that "there are two types of black music: black music before Sly Stone, and black music after Sly Stone".[1] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Freddie Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Dance to the Music, December 28, 1968. ... Trumpeter redirects to here. ... Cynthia Robinson (born January 12, 1946 in Sacramento, California) is an African-American musician, best known for being the trumpetist in the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Greg Errico (also spelled Gregg Errico, born September 1, 1949 in San Francisco, California) is an Italian-American musician, best known for being the drummer for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone until 1971. ... Saxophones of different sizes play in different registers. ... Jerry Martini (born October 1, 1943 in Colorado) is an American musician, best known for being the saxophonist for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... Martin EB18 Bass Guitar in flight case. ... Larry Graham on the cover of his 1981 LP Just Be My Lady. ... A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. ... Rose Stone (or Rosie Stone, born Rosemary Stewart on March 21, 1945 in Vallejo, California) is an African-American singer and keyboardist. ... For popular music (music produced commercially rather than art or folk music), see Popular music. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... African American music (also called black music, formerly known as race music) is an umbrella term given to a range of musical genres emerging from or influenced by the culture of United States. ...


During the early 1970s, the band switched its sound to a grittier, drug-laced funk sound, which was as influential on the music industry as their earlier work. The band began to fall apart during this period because of drug abuse and ego clashes; As Sly Stone and his bandmates delved deeper into drug abuse, the fortunes and reliability of the band deteriorated, leading to its dissolution in 1975. Sly Stone continued to record solo albums and tour under the "Sly & the Family Stone" name from 1975 until 1987, when he was arrested and sentenced for cocaine use. Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ... Drug abuse has a wide range of definitions, all of them relating either to the misuse or overuse of a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect. ... eGO is a company that builds electric motor scooters which are becoming popular for urban transportation and vacation use. ... Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ...

Contents

History

Pre-history

Sylvester Stewart during the Autumn Records days.
Sylvester Stewart during the Autumn Records days.

The Stewart family was a deeply religious middle-class family from Dallas, Texas. K.C. and Alpha Stewart held the family together under the doctrines of the Church of God in Christ and encouraged their musical expression. After the family moved to Vallejo, California (near Oakland and San Francisco), the youngest four Stewart children (Sylvester, Freddie, Rose, and Vaetta) formed "The Stewart Four", who released their own local 78 RPM single, "On the Battlefield of the Lord" b/w "Walking in Jesus' Name", in 1952. Eldest sister Loretta was the only Stewart child not to pursue a musical career. Image File history File links The cover to Precious Stone, a compilation of early Sly & the Family Stone recordings. ... Image File history File links The cover to Precious Stone, a compilation of early Sly & the Family Stone recordings. ... Autumn Records was a San Francisco, California based record label. ... Various Religious symbols, including (first row) Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Bahai, (second row) Islam, tribal, Taoist, Shinto (third row) Buddhism, Sikh, Hindu, Jain Religion is a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unseen being, or system of thought considered...      Nickname: Big D Location in the state of Texas Country United States State Texas Counties Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall Mayor Laura Miller Area    - City 997. ... Texas is the gayest motherfucking state out there they can suck my big black balls. ... The Church of God in Christ, Incorporated is a Pentecostal body, the fourth largest Christian Church in the United States. ... Vallejo (pronounced IPA: , vuh-LAY-hoe) is a city in Solano County, California, United States. ... Oakland, founded in 1852, is the eighth-largest city in California[1] and the county seat of Alameda County. ... Sly Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Everyday People, December 28, 1968. ... Freddie Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Dance to the Music, December 28, 1968. ... Rose Stone (or Rosie Stone, born Rosemary Stewart on March 21, 1945 in Vallejo, California) is an African-American singer and keyboardist. ... Vet Stone (born Vaetta Stewart in 1949 in Vallejo, California) is an African-American soul singer, the lead singer in Sly & the Family Stones background group Little Sister (the group name derives from the fact that she is the little sister of frontman Sly Stone. ... In recorded music, the terms A-side and B-side refer to the two sides of 7 inch vinyl records on which singles have been released since the 1950s. ...


As teenagers, both Sylvester and Freddie joined a number of high school bands. One of Sylvester's high school musical groups was doo-wop act called The Viscaynes, in which he and a Filipino teenager were the only non-white members. The Viscaynes released a few local singles, and Sylvester also recorded a few solo singles under the name "Danny Stewart". High school is a name used in some parts of the world, and particularly in North America, to describe the last segment of compulsory secondary education. ... Doo-wop is a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music popular in the mid-1950s to the early 1960s in America. ... The term White American refers primarily to Americans of European descent residing in the United States. ...


By 1963, Sylvester had become Sly Stone, a DJ for San Francisco R&B radio station KSOL, where he often included white performers such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones into his playlists alongside the regular black R&B artists. During the same period, he worked as a record producer for Autumn Records, producing for San Francisco-area bands such as The Beau Brummels and The Mojo Men. One of the Sylvester Stewart-produced Autumn singles, Bobby Freeman's "C'mon and Swim", was a national hit record. Stewart recorded some solo singles of his own while at Autumn, none of which made an impact. Sly Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Everyday People, December 28, 1968. ... For other meanings of DJ, see DJ (disambiguation). ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... The Beatles were a highly influential English rock band from Liverpool. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the performers, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes . ... Autumn Records was a San Francisco, California based record label. ... The Beau Brummels was a successful 1960s American rock band. ... The Mojo Men were a rock music band, inspired by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, that recorded for the Autumn Records label in San Francisco, California. ... Bobby Freeman (born June 13, 1940) is an African-American soul singer who recorded for the Autumn Records label in San Francisco, California. ...


Early years

In 1966, Sly Stone formed a band called Sly & the Stoners, which included acquaintance Cynthia Robinson on trumpet. Around the same time, his brother Freddie founded a band called Freddie & the Stone Souls, which included Gregg Errico on drums. At the suggestion of Sly's friend, saxophonist Jerry Martini, Sly and Freddie combined their bands, creating Sly & the Family Stone in 1967. Since both Sly and Freddie were guitarists, Sly appointed Freddie the official guitarist for the Family Stone, and taught himself to play the electronic organ. The band was missing a bassist, which Sly found in Larry Graham, whom he had seen accompanying his mother, songstress Dell Graham, at a local Oakland nightclub. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (705x702, 452 KB)Dance to the Music by Sly & the Family Stone. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (705x702, 452 KB)Dance to the Music by Sly & the Family Stone. ... Dance to the Music was the second album for Sly & the Family Stone, released by Epic/CBS Records in 1968. ... Greg Errico (also spelled Gregg Errico, born September 1, 1949 in San Francisco, California) is an Italian-American musician, best known for being the drummer for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone until 1971. ... Cynthia Robinson (born January 12, 1946 in Sacramento, California) is an African-American musician, best known for being the trumpetist in the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... Freddie Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Dance to the Music, December 28, 1968. ... Rose Stone (or Rosie Stone, born Rosemary Stewart on March 21, 1945 in Vallejo, California) is an African-American singer and keyboardist. ... Sly Stone on The Ed Sullivan Show performing Everyday People, December 28, 1968. ... Larry Graham on the cover of his 1981 LP Just Be My Lady. ... Jerry Martini (born October 1, 1943 in Colorado) is an American musician, best known for being the saxophonist for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... Cynthia Robinson (born January 12, 1946 in Sacramento, California) is an African-American musician, best known for being the trumpetist in the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... Trumpeter redirects to here. ... Greg Errico (also spelled Gregg Errico, born September 1, 1949 in San Francisco, California) is an Italian-American musician, best known for being the drummer for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone until 1971. ... Jerry Martini (born October 1, 1943 in Colorado) is an American musician, best known for being the saxophonist for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... The classic Hammond electronic organ, invented in the 1930s and popular for decades thereafter. ... Larry Graham on the cover of his 1981 LP Just Be My Lady. ... Clubbing, also known as a disco A nightclub (often shortened to club) is an entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. ...


Vaetta Stewart wanted to be a part of the new group as well. She and her friends Mary McCreary and Elva Mouton had a gospel group called The Heavenly Tones. Sly recruited the three teenagers directly out of high school to become Little Sister, Sly & the Family Stone's background vocalists. Gospel music may refer to the religious music that first came out of African-American churches in the first quarter of the twentieth century or, more loosely, to both black gospel music and to the religious music composed and sung by predominately white Southern Gospel artists. ... Little Sister was an American all-female vocal harmony group, which served primarily as the background vocalists for the influential rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone in concert and on record. ...


The debut single for Sly & the Family Stone was "I Ain't Got Nobody", a major regional hit for Loadstone Records. CBS Records executive Clive Davis soon heard about the band and signed them to CBS' Epic Records label. The Family Stone's first album, A Whole New Thing, was released in 1967 to critical acclaim but disappointing sales. Columbia Records is the oldest continually used brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888. ... Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is the founder of Arista Records, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. ... Epic Records is an American record label, and subsidiary of Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ... A Whole New Thing was the debut album for Sly & the Family Stone, released by Epic/CBS Records in 1967. ...


Davis coerced Sly into writing and recording a record that could be a pop hit, and he and the band reluctantly provided the single "Dance to the Music". Upon its February 1968 release, "Dance to the Music" became a widespread groundbreaking hit, and was the band's first charting single, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Just before the release of "Dance to the Music", Rose Stone joined the group as a vocalist and a keyboardist. Rose's brothers had invited her to join the band from the beginning, but she had initially been reluctant to leave her steady job at a local record store. Dance to the Music is a 1968 hit single by the influential soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone for the Epic/CBS Records label. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ...


Sly & the Family Stone began to tour across the country, and were well-known for their energetic performances and unique costuming. The Dance to the Music album went on to decent sales, but the follow-up, Life, was not as successful. Regardless of commercial success, both albums were highly influential across the music industry. In September 1968, the band embarked on its first overseas tour, to England. That tour was cut short after Larry Graham was arrested for possession of marijuana, and also because of disagreements with concert promoters. Dance to the Music was the second album for Sly & the Family Stone, released by Epic/CBS Records in 1968. ... For other uses, see Life (album). ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... A Cannabis sativa plant The drug cannabis, also called marijuana, is produced from parts of the cannabis plant, primarily the cured flowers and gathered trichomes of the female plant. ...


Sound, philosophies, and influence of early years

Sly Stone had produced for and performed with both blacks and whites during his early career, and he integrated music by white artists into black radio station KSOL's playlist as a DJ. Similarly, the Sly & the Family Stone sound was a melting pot of many different influences and cultures, including James Brown proto-funk, Motown pop, Stax soul, Broadway showtunes, and psychedelic rock music. Wah-wah guitars, distorted fuzz basslines, church-styled organ lines, and horn riffs provided the musical backdrop for the vocals of the band's four lead singers. Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Larry Graham, and Rose Stone would trade off on various bars of each verse, a style of vocal arrangement both unusual and revolutionary at that time in popular music. Cynthia Robinson would shout ad-libbed vocal directions to the audience and/or the band; for example, urging everyone to "get on up and 'Dance to the Music'" and demanding that "all the squares go home!" James Brown, known variously as: Soul Brother Number One, the Godfather of Soul, Mr. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... For popular music (music produced commercially rather than art or folk music), see Popular music. ... Stax Records was a Memphis, Tennessee based record label that existed from 1959 to 1976. ... Soul Music is the sixteenth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, published in 1994. ... Broadway theatre[1] is often considered the highest professional form of theatre in the United States. ... The word psychedelic is a neologism coined from the Greek words for mind, ψυχη (psyche), and manifest, δηλειν (delein). ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The term square, in referring to a person, originally meant someone who was honest, traditional, and loyal. ...


The lyrics for the band's songs were usually pleas for peace, love, and understanding among all people. These rallies against vices such as racism, discrimination, and self-hate were underscored by the lineup for and onstage appearance of The Family Stone. Caucasians Gregg Errico and Jerry Martini were both members of the band at a time when integrated performance bands were virtually unheard of, and integration itself had only recently become enforced by law. Females Cynthia Robinson and Rosie Stone played instruments onstage, rather than just providing vocals or serving as visual accompaniment for the male members. The band's gospel-styled singing endeared them to black audiences, while their rock music elements and wild costuming—including Sly's large Afro and tight leather outfits, Rose's blond wig, and the other members' loud psychedelic clothing—caught the attention of mainstream audiences. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The word discrimination comes from the Latin discriminare, which means to distinguish between. Discrimination is more than distinction, it is action based on prejudice resulting in unfair treatment of people. ... Literally, self-hatred refers to an extreme dislike of oneself, or being angry at oneself. ... Gospel music may refer to the religious music that first came out of African-American churches in the first quarter of the twentieth century or, more loosely, to both black gospel music and to the religious music composed and sung by predominately white Southern Gospel artists. ... Rock is a form of popular music from the mid 20th century which typically features a vocal melody (often with vocal harmony) that is supported by accompaniment of electric guitars, a bass guitar, and drums, often with a strong back beat. ... An afro, sometimes called a natural or shortened to fro, is a hairstyle in which the hair extends out from the head like a halo, cloud or ball. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. ...


Although "Dance to the Music" was Sly & The Family Stone's only hit single until late 1968, the influences of that single and the Dance to the Music and Life albums were felt (and heard) across the music industry. The smooth, piano-based "Motown sound" was out; "psychedelic soul" was in. Rock-styled guitar lines similar to the ones Freddie Stone played began appearing in the music of artists like The Isley Brothers ("It's Your Thing") and Diana Ross & the Supremes ("Love Child"). Larry Graham invented the "slapping" technique of bass guitar playing, which became synonymous with funk music. Some musicians changed their sound completely to co-opt that of Sly & the Family Stone, most notably Motown in-house producer Norman Whitfield, who took his main act The Temptations into "psychedelic soul" territory starting with the Grammy-winning "Cloud Nine" in 1968. The early work of Sly & the Family Stone was also a significant influence on the music of Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, The Undisputed Truth, The Impressions, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Miles Davis, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, and, in more recent years, Arrested Development and The Black Eyed Peas. The Motown Sound is a style of soul music with distinctive characteristics, including the use of tambourine along with drums, bass instrumentation, a distinctive melodic and chord structure, and a call and response singing style originating in gospel music. ... Psychedelic soul is a subgenre of soul music that thrived during the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... The Isley Brothers are a hugely popular African-American music group from Cincinnati, Ohio, who hold the record for being the longest-running charted group in music history. ... Its Your Thing was a very successful single for the Isley Brothers when it was released in 1969. ... The Supremes were a Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia, and disco. ... Love Child is a 1968 #1 hit single released by the Motown label as a single for Diana Ross & the Supremes, although Diana Ross is the only member of the group present on the record. ... In music, the term slapping is often used to refer to two different though related playing techniques on the double bass and on the (electric) bass guitar. ... Martin EB18 Bass Guitar in flight case. ... Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ... Norman Whitfield Norman Jesse Whitfield (born in Harlem, New York in 1943) was a songwriter and producer for Berry Gordys Motown label during the 1960s. ... The Temptations (often abbreviated as The Tempts or The Temps) are an American Motown singing group whose repertoire has included doo-wop, soul, psychedelia, funk, disco, R&B, and adult contemporary. ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music... Cloud Nine is a 1968 hit song recorded by The Temptations for the Motown label. ... For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ... The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five or The Jackson 5ive, abbreviated as J5, and later known as The Jacksons) was an American popular music quintet from Gary, Indiana. ... The Undisputed Truth, on the cover of their first LP, 1971s The Undisputed Truth, which contains their only hit single, Smiling Faces Sometimes. The Undisputed Truth was a 1970s Motown recording act, assembled by record producer Norman Whitfield as a means for being able to experiment with his psychedelic... For the Australian rock group, see The Impressions (Australian band). ... Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris), [1] is an African American singer, songwriter, record producer, musician, and social activist. ... Due to technical limitations, some web browsers may not display some special characters in this article. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was one of the most distinguished jazz musicians of the latter half of the 20th century. ... George Clinton (born July 22, 1941) is an American musician, widely considered one of the forefathers of funk. ... Parliament was originally The Parliaments, a doo-wop group based out of George Clintons Plainfield, New Jersey barber shop. ... Funkadelic was originally the backing band for the doo wop group, The Parliaments. ... Arrested Development is an American progressive hip hop group, founded by Speech and Headliner as a positive, Afrocentric alternative to the gangsta rap popular in the early 1990s. ... The Black Eyed Peas are an American hip-hop (musical styles crossover rap/hip hop and alternative rap/hip hop) group from Los Angeles, California, who have enjoyed international pop success. ...

The cover to 1969's Stand!
The cover to 1969's Stand!

Image File history File links The cover to Sly & The Family Stones 1969 LP, Stand! This image is the cover of an album or single. ... Image File history File links The cover to Sly & The Family Stones 1969 LP, Stand! This image is the cover of an album or single. ... Stand! is the name of the 1969 breakout album for the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ...

Stand! (1969)

In late 1968, Sly & the Family Stone released the single "Everyday People", which became the band's first number-one hit. Even more pop-friendly than "Dance to the Music" had been, "Everyday People" was a protest against prejudices of all kinds, and popularized the catch phrase "different strokes for different folks". With its b-side "Sing a Simple Song", it served as the lead single for the band's fourth album, Stand!, which was released on May 3, 1969. The album eventually sold over three million copies, and its title track became another hit for Sly & the Family Stone, peaking at number 22 nationally. Stand! is considered one of the artistic high points of the band's career, containing the above three tracks as well as the minor chart hit "I Want to Take You Higher." Everyday People is a 1968 song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ... In recorded music, the terms A-side and B-side refer to the two sides of 7 inch vinyl records on which singles have been released since the 1950s. ... Sing a Simple Song is a 1968 song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, the b-side to their #1 hit Everyday People. The songs lyrics, sung in turn by Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Rose Stone, and Larry Graham, with spoken word (or, rather, shouted... Stand! is the name of the 1969 breakout album for the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... I Want to Take You Higher is a 1969 song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, the b-side to their Top 30 hit Stand!. Unlike most of the other tracks on the Stand! album, I Want to Take You Higher is not a message song...


The success of Stand! secured Sly & the Family Stone a gig as one of the performers at the landmark Woodstock Music and Art Festival. The band performed their set during the early-morning hours of August 17, 1969; their performance was said to be one of the best shows of the festival. A new non-album single, "Hot Fun in the Summertime," was released the same month and went to number-two on the US pop charts (peaking in October, after the summer of 1969 had already ended). In 1970, following the successful release of the Woodstock film documentary, the "I Want to Take You Higher" single was reissued, reaching the Top 40. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Hot Fun in the Summertime is a 1969 hit single recorded by Sly & the Family Stone. ... Woodstock is the name of the 1970 documentary film about the Woodstock rock festival, directed by Michael Wadleigh and edited by Martin Scorsese. ...


Internal problems and a change of direction

With the band's newfound fame and success came numerous problems. The band's messages of peace and love seemed to fall on deaf ears, as Vietnam War protests were met with violent resistance, and race riots devastated Black neighborhoods across the nation. Relationships within the band were deteriorating; there was friction in particular between the Stone brothers and Larry Graham. Epic demanded more product. The Black Panther Party demanded that Sly make his music more militant and more reflective of the black power movement, and also demanded that Sly replace Greg Errico and Jerry Martini with black instrumentalists. All of the stress came down upon Sly, who developed ulcers and began taking prescription drugs for his condition. Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... A race riot or racial riot is an outbreak of violent civil unrest in which race is a key factor. ... The Black Panther Party (originally called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) was an African American civil rights and self-defense organization, active within the United States in the late 1960s. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Endoscopic images of a duodenal ulcer. ... Oral medication A medication is a licenced drug taken to cure or reduce symptoms of an illness or medical condition. ...


After moving to the Los Angeles area in the fall of 1969, Sly and his bandmates became heavy partakers of illegal drugs, primarily cocaine and PCP. As the members began focusing more time on drug use and partying (Sly Stone would carry a violin case filled with cocaine wherever he went), recording slowed significantly. Between summer 1969 and fall 1971, the only new Sly & the Family Stone material to be released was one single, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" / "Everybody Is a Star", released in December 1969. While "Star" was another positive record in the vein of "Everyday People," the single's lead side featured an angry, bitter Sly & the Family Stone, who declared in unison that they could no longer pretend to be something they weren't (peaceful, loving, and happy) and (dis)respectfully thanked the audience "for letting me be myself again." "Thank You" has been called the first full-fledged funk single to top the national charts, a position it reached in February 1970. Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Area    - City 1,290. ... Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ... Phencyclidine (a contraction of the chemical name phenylcyclohexylpiperidine), abbreviated PCP, is a dissociative drug formerly used as an anesthetic agent, exhibiting hallucinogenic and neurotoxic effects. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), released in December 1969, is a 1970 hit single recorded by Sly & the Family Stone. ... Everybody is a Star, released in December 1969, is a 1970 hit single recorded by Sly & the Family Stone. ... Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ...


Also from 1969-1970 the band, with the addition of vocalist Joe Hicks, released two singles on A&M Records under the name Abaco Dream. The singles, "Life and Death in G & A" and "Another Night of Love", failed to chart and have since become minor collectors' items. A&M Records is a record label formed in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. ...

The cover to the 1970 Greatest Hits LP.
The cover to the 1970 Greatest Hits LP.

Image File history File links Slyfam-ghits-1970. ... Image File history File links Slyfam-ghits-1970. ... Greatest Hits is a 1970 greatest hits LP for the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ...

1970–1971 interim

Although irregular drug use was not new to Sly or the band prior to 1970, by this time Sly Stone spent most of his waking hours high. The drug use had a detrimental effect upon Sly's demeanor and reliability. He became erratic and moody, and missed nearly a third of the concerts for Sly & the Family Stone in 1970. Live appearances on television talk shows such as The Mike Douglas Show and The Dick Cavett Show went unpredictably. At the same time, Sly hired his streetwise friends Hamp "Bubba" Banks and J.B. Brown as his personal managers, and they in turn brought in gangsters such as Edward "Eddie Chin" Elliott and Mafioso J.R. Valtrano as Sly's bodyguards. Sly enlisted these individuals to handle his business dealings, get him drugs, and to protect him from those he considered his enemies, some of whom were his own bandmates and staff. A rift developed between Sly and the rest of the band, and drummer Gregg Errico was the first to leave the band for other ventures in early 1971. He was replaced with a succession of drummers until Sly settled upon Gerry Gibson. Gibson would only remain with the band for a year before being replaced by Andy Newmark in 1973. The Mike Douglas Show was a popular and long-running American daytime television talk show starring singer Mike Douglas. ... The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of many talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on several television networks, including: ABC daytime (March 4, 1968–January 24, 1969) (originally titled This Morning) ABC prime time (May 26–September 19, 1969) ABC late night (December 29, 1969–January 1, 1975... Gangsters are members of a professional crime organization, i. ... This article is about the organized crime groups. ... Andy Newmark is an American musician, best known as the drummer for influential funk band Sly & the Family Stone from 1973 to 1975. ...


To appease fan demand for new Sly & the Family Stone product, Epic began re-releasing previously issued material. A Whole New Thing was reissued with a new cover, while several of the Family Stone's most popular recordings were packaged into the band's first Greatest Hits album. Greatest Hits was a high-selling album in 1970, reaching number two on The Billboard 200. Greatest Hits is a 1970 greatest hits LP for the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... The Billboard 200 is a listing of the 200 highest selling music albums in the United States, published weekly in Billboard magazine. ...


During this period, Sly Stone negotiated a production deal with Atlantic Records, resulting in his own imprint, Stone Flower Productions. Stone Flower released four singles, including one by R&B artist Joe Hicks, one by a group called 6IX, and two pop Top 40/R&B Top 10 singles by Little Sister: "You're The One" and "Somebody's Watching You", a cover of a song from Stand!. For unclear reasons, Sly gradually withdrew his attention from Stone Flower, and the label was closed in 1971. Little Sister's "Somebody's Watching You" is noted as the first popular recording to feature the use of a drum machine for its rhythm track. Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American record label that operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Music Group. ... A Boss DR-202 Drum Machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums and/or other percussion instruments. ...


There's a Riot Goin' On (1971)

The original cover for 1971's There's a Riot Goin' On.
The original cover for 1971's There's a Riot Goin' On.

In the fall of 1971, Sly & the Family Stone finally returned, after a nearly two-year period with no new material, with a new hit single, "Family Affair". Because of the anticipation built up for its release, "Family Affair" rose quickly to #1 on the US pop charts, but "Family Affair" was the polar opposite of what the public was expecting. It was instead a somber, dark-sounding record, with Sly singing in a low, depressed tone. Image File history File links The original cover to Sly & The Family Stones 1971 LP, Theres A Riot Goin On This image is the cover of an album or single. ... Image File history File links The original cover to Sly & The Family Stones 1971 LP, Theres A Riot Goin On This image is the cover of an album or single. ... Theres a Riot Goin On is the influential 1971 album by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... Family Affair is a 1971 #1 hit single recorded by Sly & the Family Stone for the Epic Records label. ...


"Family Affair" was the lead single from the band's long-awaited fifth album, There's a Riot Goin' On, which debuted at number-one on the Billboard album charts upon its November 1971 release. Instead of the bright, cheery rock-laced soul that had represented the optimistic 1960s, There's a Riot Goin' On was filled with dark, drug-hazed, filtered drum machine tracks, and burnt-out vocals and instrumentation, representing the hopelessness many people were now feeling in the 1970s. The album is characterized by a dulled sound quality, with a significant amount of tape hiss, the result of Sly's extensive re-recording and overdubbing during production (apparently because of promises made to female vocalists about appearing on the album in exchange for sexual favors). Allegedly, most of the album's instrumentation is performed by Sly alone, who enlisted the Family Stone for some of the additional instrumental parts and friends such as Billy Preston, Ike Turner, and Bobby Womack for others. Besides "Family Affair", "(You Caught Me) Smilin'," and "Runnin' Away" were also released as singles, and performed well on the charts. Theres a Riot Goin On is the influential 1971 album by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone. ... William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American soul musician from Houston, Texas, raised mostly in Los Angeles, California. ... Ike Turner (born Izear Luster Turner Jr. ... Robert Dwayne Womack (born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA on March 4, 1944), is an African-American singer, guitarist and songwriter. ...


After the release of Riot, more lineup changes took place. In early 1972, Jerry Martini inquired to Sly and his managers about monies due him, and saxophonist Pat Rizzo was hired as a potential replacement for Martini if he ever became suspicious of the band's business practices again. Both Rizzo and Martini remained in the band. Pat Rizzo is an American musician, best known as a saxophonist for influential funk band Sly & the Family Stone from 1972 to 1975. ...


Later that year, the tension between Sly Stone and Larry Graham came to a head. A post-concert brawl broke out between Graham's entourage and Sly's entourage; Bubba Banks and Eddie Chin, having heard that Larry had hired a hit man to kill Sly, assaulted Graham's associates. Graham and his wife climbed out of a hotel window to escape with their lives, and Pat Rizzo gave them a ride to safety. Unable to continue working with Sly, Graham immediately quit the Family Stone and went on to start Graham Central Station, a band in the same vein as Sly & the Family Stone that eventually began to outsell its predecessor. After a brief period with Bobby Womack as a stand-in bass player, Graham's place in the band was filled by nineteen-year-old Rusty Allen. A hitman (alternately, hit man) is a hired assassin, often by organized crime. ... Graham Central Station was a funk band named after founder Larry Graham and Grand Central Station in New York City. ... Rusty Allen (born in 1953) is an African-American musician, best known as the bass guitar player for influential funk band Sly & the Family Stone from 1972 to 1975. ...

The cover for 1973's Fresh.
The cover for 1973's Fresh.

Image File history File links Fresh by Sly & the Family Stone. ... Image File history File links Fresh by Sly & the Family Stone. ... Fresh was the sixth album by Sly & the Family Stone, released by Epic/CBS Records in 1973. ...

Fresh (1973) and Small Talk (1974)

Despite the loss of rhythm section and Sly's escalating cocaine use, the next Sly & the Family Stone album, Fresh, was released in 1973. By this time, Sly's sound had become more stripped down while at the same time more syncopated and rhythmically complex. As he had done with Riot, Sly held the masters for a long time, obsessively overdubbing. Though the record received mixed reviews at its release and did not receive the attention that the band's earlier, more commercial work did, Fresh is now recognized as one of the most important funk albums ever made. Rose Stone sang lead on a gospel-styled cover of Doris Day's "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)", and the single "If You Want Me to Stay" became a Top 20 hit in the U.S. Fresh was the sixth album by Sly & the Family Stone, released by Epic/CBS Records in 1973. ... In music, syncopation is the stressing of a normally unstressed beat in a bar or the failure to sound a tone on an accented beat. ... Gospel music may refer to the religious music that first came out of African-American churches in the first quarter of the twentieth century or, more loosely, to both black gospel music and to the religious music composed and sung by predominately white Southern Gospel artists. ... In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ... Doris Mary Ann von Kappelhoff, known as Doris Day (born April 3, 1924), is an American singer, actress, and animal welfare advocate. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... If You Want Me to Stay is a 1973 hit single by Sly & the Family Stone, from their 1973 album Fresh. ...


Its follow-up, Small Talk was released in 1974 to mixed reviews, and underperformed commercially. The first Small Talk single, "Time For Livin'", became the band's final Top 40 hit single. "Loose Booty", the second single, underperformed, peaking at number 84. Small Talk was the seventh album by Sly & the Family Stone, released by Epic/CBS Records in 1974. ...


Dissolution

By this time, the Sly & the Family Stone fanbase had eroded, and the acts the band had inspired were now eclipsing them as important funk artists. Live bookings had steadily dropped off since 1970, as promoters were afraid that Sly or one of the band members might miss the gig, refuse to play, or pass out from drug use if they were booked. All three issues were regular occurrences for the band during the 1970s, and had an adverse effect on their ability to demand money for live bookings. At many of these gigs, concertgoers would riot if the band didn't show up, or if Sly would walk out early before finishing his set. Ken Roberts became the group's promoter, and later their manager in general, when no other representatives would work with the band because of their erratic gig attendance record.


In January 1975, the band booked itself for what turned out to be a disastrous engagement at the Radio City Music Hall. The Family Stone filled the house to only one-eighth of its capacity, and had to scrape together money to return home. Following the Radio City engagement, Freddie Stone, Rose Stone, Rusty Allen, Andy Newmark, and Jerry Martini all parted company with Sly, and the Family Stone was dissolved. Radio City Music Hall at Christmas 2005 Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ...


Rose Stone was pulled out of the band by Bubba Banks, who was by then her husband. She began a solo career, recording an album under the name of Rose Banks for Motown in 1976. Freddie Stone joined Larry Graham's Graham Central Station for a time, and, after collaborating with his brother one last time in 1979 for Back on the Right Track, retired from the music industry. Entering drug rehabilitation to fight his ten-year cocaine addiction, Freddie Stone eventually became the pastor of the Evangelist Temple Fellowship Center in Vallejo, California. Little Sister was also dissolved, with Mary McCrary marrying Leon Russell and working with him on music projects. Vet Stone continued to perform on her own without fanfare, as did Elva Mouton, Rusty Allen, and Jerry Martini. Andy Newmark went on to become a successful session drummer, playing with Roxy Music, B.B. King, Steve Winwood and others. Motown Records, Inc. ... Back on the Right Track was the tenth album by Sly & the Family Stone, released by Warner Bros. ... Main article: Minister of religion A pastor is the head minister or priest of a Christian church. ... Leon Russell A Young Leon Russell Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1942 in Lawton, Oklahoma) is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist. ... Roxy Music are an English art rock group founded in the early 1970s by art school graduate Bryan Ferry (vocals and keyboards). ... Riley B. King aka B. B. King (b. ... Stephen Lawrence Winwood (born May 12, 1948 in Great Barr, West Midlands) is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who, in addition to his solo career, was a member of the bands the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith. ...


Impact and influence of later material

The work of the later version of Sly & the Family Stone was as influential as the band's early work. There's a Riot Goin' On, Fresh, and Small Talk are considered among the first and best examples of the matured version of funk music, after prototypical instances of the sound in the band's 1960s work. The highly syncopated electric piano, guitar, and bass lines; programmed drum tracks, and lyrics that were wailed rather than sung set the example for most of the popular funk musical acts of the 1970s. Some of these acts, including Funkadelic, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Kool & the Gang, became as prominent and successful in the music industry during the mid-to-late-1970s as Sly & the Family Stone had been during the earlier part of the decade. Funkadelic was originally the backing band for the doo wop group, The Parliaments. ... Earth, Wind & Fire is a world-renowned American band which fuses different genres of music , formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 and is led and founded by Maurice White. ... Kool & the Gang is a highly successful R&B/soul/funk/disco group. ...


Jazz musician Herbie Hancock was inspired by There's a Riot Goin' On to move towards a more electric sound with his material, resulting in Head Hunters (1973), the best-selling jazz album of all time. Stevie Wonder also adopted elements of Sly's electronic sound, which Wonder most notably displays in his 1974 number-one single "You Haven't Done Nothin'" from Fulfillingness' First Finale. In addition, later artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, OutKast, Ronii, D'Angelo, The Roots, The Black Eyed Peas, India.Arie, Kanye West, Common, Alicia Keys, and John Legend have shown significant inspiration from the post-1970 work of Sly & the Family Stone. For other article subjects named Jazz see jazz (disambiguation). ... Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an Academy Award and multiple Grammy Award winning jazz pianist and composer from Chicago, Illinois, USA. Hancock is one of jazz musics most important and influential pianists and composers. ... Head Hunters is an album by Herbie Hancock, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music) on Columbia Records. ... Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris), [1] is an African American singer, songwriter, record producer, musician, and social activist. ... Fulfillingness First Finale is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on July 22, 1974 (see 1974 in music). ... Madonna Louise Ciccone (born August 16, 1958), better known worldwide as simply Madonna, is an iconic American pop singer, songwriter, musician, record and film producer, dancer, actress, author and a fashion icon whose level of fame and success has earned her superstar status for more than two decades. ... For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ... Prince changed his stage name into an unpronounceable symbol in 1993, but took up the name Prince again in 1999. ... OutKast is an American hip hop duo based out of Atlanta, Georgia. ... Ronii (born Ron Bailey on October 16, 1978) is an American musician. ... DAngelo (born Michael Eugene Archer on February 11, 1974 in Richmond, Virginia) is an American soul singer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. ... The Roots, also known as The Legendary Roots Crew, The Fifth Dynasty, The Square Roots and The Foundation, are an influential, Grammy winning Philadelphia-based hip hop group, famed for a heavily jazzy sound and live instrumentation. ... The Black Eyed Peas are an American hip-hop (musical styles: pop-rap and alternative hip-hop) group from Los Angeles, California, who have enjoyed worldwide pop success. ... India Arie Simpson (born October 3, 1975) is a Grammy Award-winning American neo soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and guitarist. ... Kanye Omari West (born June 8, 197