That Eric Alper

You might not know his name off the top of your head, but Sly Stone helped shape the sound of modern music more than most people realize. As the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, he brought together soul, rock, funk, gospel, and psychedelia into a bold, new musical language. The influence of their music stretches from the 1960s right up to what you hear in pop, hip-hop, and R&B today.

1. He Took Funk Further Than Anyone Before Him
While James Brown laid the groundwork for funk, Sly Stone expanded it into something wilder, more colorful, and more inclusive. He layered it with distortion, psychedelia, horns, and joy. With hits like “Dance to the Music” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” Sly created songs that demanded attention, both on the dance floor and in your soul. He made funk less about repetition and more about emotional release. His vision opened the door for artists like Prince, George Clinton, and even Daft Punk, who’ve built careers on blending genres and pushing sonic boundaries. Without Sly, funk wouldn’t be what it is—and pop music might never have learned how to truly groove.

2. He Formed the First Truly Integrated Band in Popular Music
In 1966, long before “diversity and inclusion” became buzzwords, Sly Stone formed a band that was both racially integrated and gender-diverse. At a time when America was torn apart by civil rights struggles and segregation, Sly and the Family Stone put Black, white, male, and female musicians on the same stage. They grooved together, with equal visibility and respect. It wasn’t a gimmick; it was a vision for what America could look like. This made them one of the most powerful symbols of unity in popular music, influencing everyone from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen to contemporary artists like Alabama Shakes. The idea that bands could—and should—look like the real world? That started with Sly.

3. He Brought Social Commentary into the Funky Mainstream
Sly Stone proved that music could be political without being preachy, and that deep messages didn’t have to kill the party vibe. Songs like “Everyday People” and “Family Affair” tackled big issues like racism, class division, and family dysfunction with heart, wit, and danceable rhythms. He wrapped protest in groove, making serious subjects accessible to everyone. At a time when radio playlists were dominated by love songs and surf rock, Sly was out here singing about injustice, alienation, and the American dream—with a smile and a bassline that slapped. This approach paved the way for artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and later Public Enemy and Kendrick Lamar, all of whom brought activism into their lyrics without ever losing their musical edge.

4. He Revolutionized the Rhythm Section
One of the most underrated revolutions in music came from Sly’s bassist, Larry Graham, who pioneered the slap bass technique while playing in the Family Stone. That signature “thump and pop” sound you hear in funk, disco, R&B, and even hip-hop? It starts here. Sly created an environment where experimentation was encouraged, and the result was a rhythm section that didn’t just support the music—it drove it forward like a freight train. Add to that Sly’s use of early drum machines and multi-tracking on There’s a Riot Goin’ On, and you’ve got the blueprint for decades of production innovation. Today’s producers owe a huge debt to the grooves Sly built from the ground up.

5. He Inspired Generations Across Genres
Sly and the Family Stone’s fingerprints are all over modern music. Prince borrowed their stage presence and genre-bending style. The Red Hot Chili Peppers adopted their funk-punk aggression. Hip-hop legends like Dr. Dre, A Tribe Called Quest, and Public Enemy sampled Sly’s beats and lyrics. Even modern pop artists like Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, and Anderson .Paak carry Sly’s DNA in their slick, funky sound. His ability to blur the lines between genres made it okay for artists to color outside the lines—and in doing so, he created a roadmap for generations of musicians to come. Sly’s music didn’t belong to one category, and now neither does anyone else’s.

Sly Stone may be gone, but his legacy is everywhere—in the basslines of your favorite songs, in the boundary-breaking bands you love, and in the idea that music can bring people together across race, gender, and background. He was that good.