Sly, born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, in 1943, got his nickname after a classmate misspelled his name. He later changed his stage name from Stewart to Stone, prompting his brother and sister to do the same, leading to the formation of Sly and the Family Stone.

The group’s breakthrough came in 1967 with the release of their hit single Dance to the Music. This was followed by their self-titled album in 1968.

In 1969, Sly and the Family Stone achieved their greatest success with the release of the album Stand, which featured iconic tracks like Everyday People and Hot Fun in the Summertime.

In a 2023 interview, funk legend George Clinton paid tribute to Sly and the Family Stone, comparing them to the Black version of The Beatles. He praised Sly for embodying qualities from the streets, the church, and Motown artists like Smokey Robinson.