Sly & The Family Stone

The Profile

Formed and led by Sylvester "Sly" Stewart, Sly & The Family Stone were a multiracial, mixed-gender band from California who fused soul, rock, R&B and psychedelia into pioneering funk. Their late-1960s/early-1970s records (Stand!, There's a Riot Goin' On, Fresh) are widely cited for their musical innovation and social resonance.

Leader Sylvester "Sly" Stewart (Sly Stone); multiracial and mixed-gender lineup; seminal albums include Stand! (1969), There's a Riot Goin' On (1971), Fresh (1973), Dance to the Music (late 1960s) and Life (1968). Larry Graham is credited in reviews as inventor of the slap bass technique. The band performed at Woodstock and Newport Jazz Festival (1969) as noted in reviews.

DeBaser reviews highlight Sly & The Family Stone as pioneers of a psychedelic funk that fused soul, rock and R&B. The band is noted for its multiracial, mixed-gender lineup and strong social awareness across albums. Key records frequently cited are Stand!, There's a Riot Goin' On, Fresh and Dance to the Music. Reviews praise their influence on later artists while also noting internal problems and decline in the mid-1970s.