Sly Stone

A key figure in the development of soul, funk and R&B, Sly Stone was a brilliant if erratic singer and songwriter who galvanized 1960s-era audiences with his integrated band, the Family Stone, and such uplifting and politically charged songs as "I Want to Take You Higher," "Everyday People," "Stand" and "Thank You Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Agin." Stone's music brought together rock, gospel, soul and the psychedelic sounds of the period in material that made listeners dance and think; in doing so, he helped to elevate the conscience of popular music, both black and white, and laid the groundwork for such legendary rock-funk groups as Parliament-Funkadelic, the "psychedelic soul" of 1970s-era Motown, and the socially conscious hip-hop of the early 1990s, which drew heavily from his catalog for sonic sampling. Unfortunately, Stone's personal demons were stronger than his creative urges, and years of drug addiction and missed performances destroyed the Family Stone, sending his career into a tailspin from which he never recovered. But for a half-decade in the late '60s, Stone was one of the most important figures in music, and his incredible legacy of songs continued to inspire musicians for decades.