Editing Sly Stone (section)

==Biography==
===Early life===
Stone was born in [[Denton, Texas]], on March 15, 1943,<ref name="Santiago">Santiago, Eddie. ''Sly: The Lives of Sylvester Stewart and Sly Stone''. Eddie Santiago, 2008. Print.</ref> before the family’s move to [[Vallejo, California]], in the [[North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|North Bay]] of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. He was the second of five children born to K.C. and Alpha Stewart, a deeply religious couple. As part of the doctrines of the [[Church of God in Christ]] (COGIC), to which the Stewart family belonged, the parents encouraged musical expression in their middle-class household.<ref>[[Joel Selvin|Selvin, Joel]] (1998). ''For the Record: Sly and the Family Stone: An Oral History''. New York: Quill Publishing. {{ISBN|0-380-79377-6}}.</ref> Sylvester and his brother [[Freddie Stone|Freddie]], along with their sisters [[Rosie Stone|Rose]] and Loretta, formed "the Stewart Four" as children, performing [[gospel music]] in church. They recorded and locally released a 78 rpm single, "On the Battlefield" b/w "Walking in Jesus' Name", in August 1956.<ref>{{cite web| title= The Stewart Four| url= https://www.discogs.com/release/7536367-The-Stewart-Four-On-The-Battlefield-Walking-In-Jesus-Name| website= discogs.com| date=August 1956| accessdate=}}</ref> Only their eldest sister Loretta did not pursue a musical career; the others, including youngest sister [[Vet Stone|Vaetta]] or "Vet", would later adopt the surname "Stone" and pursue musical interests.

Sylvester was identified as a [[musical prodigy]].  By the time he was seven, he had already become proficient on the keyboards, and by the age of eleven, he had mastered the guitar, bass, and drums as well.<ref name="Santiago" /> While still in high school, Sylvester had settled primarily on the guitar and joined a number of high school bands. One of these was [[the Viscaynes]], a [[doo-wop]] group in which Sylvester and his friend [[Frank Arellano]]—who was [[Philippines|Filipino]]—were the only non-white members. The fact that the group was integrated made the Viscaynes "hip" in the eyes of their audiences, and would later inspire Sylvester's idea of the multicultural Family Stone. The Viscaynes released a few local singles, including "Yellow Moon" and "Stop What You Are"; during the same period, Sylvester also recorded a few solo singles under the name Danny Stewart. With his brother, Fred, he formed several short-lived groups, like the Stewart Bros.<ref name="RSbio">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070918091805/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/slythefamilystone/biography "Sly & The Family Stone."] ''Rolling Stone''. Web.</ref> After high school Stone studied music at the Vallejo campus of [[Solano Community College]].

The nickname Sly was a common one for Sylvester throughout his years in grade school. Early on, a classmate misspelled his name "Slyvester," and ever since, the nickname followed him.<ref name="Santiago" />

In the mid-1960s, Stone worked as a disc jockey for San Francisco, California, soul radio station [[KSOL]], where he included white performers such as [[The Beatles]] and [[The Rolling Stones]] in his playlists. During the same period, he worked as a staff record producer for [[Autumn Records]], producing for predominantly white San Francisco-area bands such as [[The Beau Brummels]], [[The Mojo Men]], [[Bobby Freeman]], and [[Grace Slick]]'s first band, [[The Great Society (band)|The Great Society]].

Stone was influential in guiding [[KSOL-AM]] into soul music and started calling the station K-SOUL. The second was a popular [[soul music]] station (sans the K-SOUL moniker), at 107.7 FM (now known as [[KSAN-FM|KSAN]]). The current KSOL has a different format and is unrelated to the previous two stations.  While still providing "music for your mind, body, and your soul" on KSOL, Sly Stone played keyboard for dozens of major performers including [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Righteous Brothers]], [[Ronettes]], [[Bobby Freeman]], George & Teddy, [[Freddy Cannon]], [[Marvin Gaye]], [[Dick & Dee Dee]], [[Jan & Dean]], [[Gene Chandler]], and many more, including at least one of the three Twist Party concerts by then chart topper [[Chubby Checker]] held at the [[Cow Palace]] in San Francisco in 1962 and 1963.  The concerts were put together by "Big Daddy" Tom Donohue and Bobby Mitchell from the then infamous [[KYA 1260 AM]] radio station and largely choreographed by Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson who went on to produce many Motown artists including [[Michael Jackson]], [[Diana Ross]], and some of the top artists of the day.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

In 1966, Sly was performing with his band Sly and The Stoners which included  [[Cynthia Robinson]] on trumpet. His brother Freddie was working with his band called Freddie and the Stone Souls with Greg Errico and Jerry Martini. One night, the two stood in a kitchen making the decision to fuse the bands together adding Larry Graham, who had studied music and worked in numerous groups. Working around the Bay Area in 1967, this multiracial band made a strong impression. Later, in 1968, Rose Stone joined the band.

===Sly and the Family Stone's success===
[[File:Sly and the Family Stone (1968 publicity photo).jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Sly and the Family Stone in 1968. Sly Stone pictured second from left.]]
After a mildly received debut album, ''[[A Whole New Thing (Sly and the Family Stone album)|A Whole New Thing]]'' (1967), Sly & The Family Stone had their first hit single with "[[Dance to the Music (song)|Dance to the Music]]", which was later included on an [[Dance to the Music (Sly and the Family Stone album)|album of the same name]] (1968). Although their third album, ''[[Life (Sly & the Family Stone album)|Life]]'' (also 1968), also suffered from low sales, their fourth album, ''[[Stand!]]'' (1969), became a runaway success, selling over three million copies and spawning a number one hit single, "[[Everyday People (Sly & the Family Stone song)|Everyday People]]".  By the summer of 1969, Sly & The Family Stone were one of the biggest names in music, releasing two more top five singles, "[[Hot Fun in the Summertime]]" and "[[Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)]]"/"[[Everybody Is a Star]]", before the end of the year and appearing at [[Woodstock festival|Woodstock]]. During the summer of 1969, Sly and the Family Stone also performed at the Summer of Soul concerts in Harlem and received an enthusiastic response from the large crowd.

After the group began touring following the success of ''[[Dance to the Music (Sly and the Family Stone album)|Dance to the Music]]'', The Family Stone drew praise for their explosive live show, which attracted black and white fans in equal measure.  When [[Bob Marley]] first played in the U.S. in 1973 with his band The Wailers, he opened on tour for [[Sly and The Family Stone]].

===Stone Flower Productions===
Along with [[David Kapralik]] who brought Sly & the Family Stone to Epic records, he co-formed Stone Flower Productions, a company that was jointly owned by both of them.<ref>''The Observer'', 10/04/99 - [https://observer.com/1999/10/music-mogul-david-kapralik-says-sony-owes-him-big-money/ Media, Music Mogul David Kapralik Says Sony Owes Him Big Money by Andrew Goldman]</ref> They appointed Steve Topley formerly of Epic Records and Hanna -Barbera Records as their vice-president in charge of Sales and Promotion.

The label that had material produced by the company, Stone Flower Records, had their records distributed by [[Atlantic Records]].<ref>''Record World'', September 27, 1969 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/Record-World-1969-09-27.pdf Page 27 Topley Heads Stone Flower Sales]</ref>

===Personal problems===
With the band's newfound fame and success came numerous problems. Relationships within the band were deteriorating; there was friction in particular between the Stone brothers and Larry Graham.<ref>Selvin, Joel (1998), pp. 107, 146–152</ref> [[Epic Records|Epic]] requested more marketable output.<ref name="Kaliss">*Kaliss, Jeff (2008). ''I Want to Take You Higher: The Life and Times of Sly & the Family Stone''. New York: Hal Leonard/Backbeat Books. {{ISBN|0-87930-934-2}}.</ref> The [[Black Panther Party]] demanded that Stone make his music more [[militant (word)|militant]] and more reflective of the [[black power]] movement,<ref name="Kaliss" /> replace Greg Errico and Jerry Martini with black instrumentalists, and replace manager [[David Kapralik]].<ref>Selvin, Joel (1998), p. 89; interview with [[David Kapralik]].</ref>

After moving to the Los Angeles area in fall 1969, Stone and his bandmates became heavy users of illegal drugs, primarily [[cocaine]] and [[phencyclidine|PCP]].<ref>Selvin, Joel (1998), pp. 94–98</ref> As the members became increasingly focused on drug use and partying (Stone carried a violin case filled with illegal drugs wherever he went),<ref>Selvin, Joel (1998), p. 122</ref> recording slowed significantly. Between summer 1969 and fall 1971, the band released only one single, "[[Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)]]"/"[[Everybody Is a Star]]", in December 1969. This song was one of the first recordings to employ the heavy, funky beats that would be featured in the [[funk]] music of the following decade. It showcased bass player [[Larry Graham]]'s innovative percussive playing technique of bass "[[Slapping (music)|slapping]]". Graham later said that he developed this technique in an earlier band in order to compensate for that band's lack of a drummer.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061205210528/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/larrygraham/articles/story/5920205/bass_legend_graham_lays_down_the_millennial_funk Bass Legend Graham Lays Down the Millennial Funk: Larry Graham]. ''Rolling Stone.'' Retrieved October 25, 2008.</ref>

"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" hit the top of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in early 1970. The single also peaked at No. 5 on the R&B chart, selling over a million copies.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t4149693|pure_url=yes}} allmusic: Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)]. All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved October 25, 2008.</ref>

Having relocated to Los Angeles with his girlfriend Deborah King, later Deborah Santana (wife of [[Carlos Santana]] from 1973 until filing for divorce in 2007), Stone's behavior became increasingly erratic. Epic was anticipating new material in 1970, but with none forthcoming, finally released ''[[Greatest Hits (Sly & the Family Stone)|Greatest Hits]]'' that November. One year later, the band's fifth album, ''[[There's a Riot Goin' On]]'', was released. ''Riot'' featured a much darker sound, and most tracks were recorded with overdubbing as opposed to the Family Stone all playing at the same time as they had done previously. Stone played most of the parts himself and performed more of the lead vocals than usual. This was one of the first major label albums to feature a [[drum machine]].

The band's cohesion slowly began to erode, and its sales and popularity began to decline as well. Errico withdrew from the group in 1971 and was eventually replaced with [[Andy Newmark]]. Larry Graham and Stone were no longer on friendly terms, and Graham was fired in early 1972 and replaced with [[Rustee Allen]]. The band's later releases, ''[[Fresh (Sly and the Family Stone album)|Fresh]]'' (1973) and ''[[Small Talk (Sly and the Family Stone album)|Small Talk]]'' (1974), featured even less of the band and more of Stone.

Live bookings for Sly & the Family Stone had steadily dropped since 1970, because promoters were afraid that Stone or one of the band members might miss the gig, refuse to play, or pass out from drug use.<ref name="EndofFamily">Selvin, Joel (1998), pp. 141–145</ref> These issues were regular occurrences for the band during the 1970s, and had an adverse effect on their ability to demand money for live bookings.<ref name="EndofFamily" /> In 1970, 26 of 80 concerts were cancelled, and numerous others started late. At many of these gigs, concertgoers rioted if the band failed to show up, or if Stone walked out before finishing his set. Ken Roberts became the group's promoter, and later their general manager, when no other representatives would work with the band because of their erratic gig attendance record.<ref>Selvin, Joel (1998), pp. 186–189.</ref> In January 1975, the band booked itself at [[Radio City Music Hall]] in New York. The famed music hall was only one-eighth occupied, and Stone and company had to scrape together money to return home.<ref name="TheEnd">Selvin, Joel (1998), pp. 188–191.</ref> Following the Radio City engagement, the band was dissolved.<ref name="TheEnd" />

Rose Stone was pulled out of the band by Bubba Banks, who was by then her husband. She began a solo career, recording a Motown-style album under the name Rose Banks in 1976. Freddie Stone joined Larry Graham's group, [[Graham Central Station]], for a time; after collaborating with his brother one last time in 1979 for ''[[Back on the Right Track]]'', he retired from the music industry and eventually became the pastor of the Evangelist Temple Fellowship Center in [[Vallejo, California]]. Background vocalist trio [[Little Sister (band)|Little Sister]] was also dissolved; [[Mary McCreary]] married [[Leon Russell]] and released recordings on Russell's Shelter Records label.<ref>Ankeny, Jason. "[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5327/biography|pure_url=yes}} Leon Russell]". ''Allmusic''. Retrieved February 5, 2007.</ref> Andy Newmark became a successful session drummer, playing with [[John Lennon]], [[Roxy Music]], [[B. B. King]], [[Steve Winwood]] and others.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p109550/credits|pure_url=yes}} Credits for Andy Newmark]. ''Allmusic''. Retrieved February 5, 2007.</ref>

===Later years===
Stone went on to record four more albums as a solo artist (only ''[[High on You (Sly Stone album)|High on You]]'' (1975) was released under just his name; the other three were released under the "Sly & The Family Stone" name). In 1976, Stone assembled a new Family Stone and released ''[[Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back]]''. 1979's ''[[Back on the Right Track]]'' followed, and in 1982 ''[[Ain't But the One Way]]'' was released, which began as a collaborative album with [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]], but was scrapped and later completed by producer [[Stewart Levine]] for release. None of these later albums achieved much success.

Stone also collaborated with [[Funkadelic]] on ''[[The Electric Spanking of War Babies]]'' (1981), but was unable to reinvigorate his career. In the early 1980s Sly Stone was also part of a George Clinton/Funkadelic family project with [[Muruga Booker]] called "The Soda Jerks," who recorded an album worth of material, of which only one song has been released. However, Muruga still has plans to release the material from the project.

In June 1983, Stone was arrested and charged with cocaine possession in [[Fort Myers, Florida]].<ref name="PEOPLE.com">{{Cite magazine |first=Ralph |last=Novak |url=http://people.com/archive/the-decline-and-fall-of-sly-stone-vol-45-no-24/ |title=The Decline and Fall of Sly Stone |volume=45 |issue=24 |date=June 17, 1996 |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=November 1, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> He served 3 years probation, and was then jailed again for violating parole.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sly Stone jailed for violating probation - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/06/08/Sly-Stone-jailed-for-violating-probation/1470550123200/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>

Stone managed to do a short tour with [[Bobby Womack]] in the summer of 1984, and he continued to make sporadic appearances on compilations and other artists' records. In 1986, Stone was featured on a track from [[Jesse Johnson (musician)|Jesse Johnson]]'s album ''Shockadelica'' called "Crazay". The music video featured Stone on keyboards and vocals, and received some airplay on the [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]] music network.

In 1986, Stone released a single, "Eek-ah-Bo Static Automatic", from the ''[[Soul Man (film)|Soul Man]]'' soundtrack, and the song "I'm the Burglar" from the ''[[Burglar (film)|Burglar]]'' soundtrack. He also co-wrote and co-produced "Just Like A Teeter-Totter", which appeared on a [[Bar-Kays]] album from 1989.
From 1988 to 1989 Sly Stone wrote and produced a collection of unreleased recordings in his home studio in New Jersey. "Coming Back for More" and "Just Like A Teeter-Totter" are a part of that collection of about 20 songs.

In 1990, he gave an energetic vocal performance on the [[Earth, Wind & Fire]] song "Good Time". In 1991, he appeared on a cover of "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" performed by the Japanese band [[13CATS]], and shared lead vocals with Bobby Womack on "When the Weekend Comes" from Womack's 1993 album ''I Still Love You''.

In 1992, Sly and the Family Stone appeared on the [[Red Hot Organization]]'s dance compilation album, ''[[Red Hot + Dance]]'', contributing an original track, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Todds CD Mix)."  The album attempted to raise awareness and money in support of the AIDS epidemic, and all proceeds were donated to AIDS charities.

In 1995, ex-landlord Chase Mellon III accused Stone of trashing the Beverly Hills mansion Mellon rented to him in 1993. Mellon says that he found bathrooms smeared with gold paint, marble floors blackened, windows broken and a gaunt Stone emerging from a guest house to say, "You’re spying on me." Sly Jr., then studying to be a recording engineer, told ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'', "Nobody purposely destroyed the house. I’d thrown parties. My dad had a few get-togethers. We weren't aware of the damage." The damage, however, was not just superficial. "Sly never grew out of drugs," says ex-wife Silva. "He lost his backbone and destroyed his future."<ref name="PEOPLE.com" />

His last major public appearance until 2006 was during the 1993 [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony where Stone showed up onstage to be entered into the Hall of Fame along with the Family Stone. In 2003, the other six members of the original Family Stone entered the studio to record a new album. Stone was invited to participate, but declined.

"I feel like Sly just doesn't wanna deal with it no more," [[Bootsy Collins]] told ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''. "It's like he's had it – it ain't no fun no more. It's a curse and a blessing. The curse part of it is the business you have to deal with, and then the blessing part is you get to be a musician and have fun…."{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

A few home-studio recordings (most likely from the late 1980s) with Stone's voice and keyboards over a drum machine have made their way onto a bootleg. One Stone-penned demo called "Coming Back for More" appears to be autobiographical and includes the verse: "Been so high, I touched the sky and the sky says 'Sly, why you tryin' to get by?'" His son, Sylvester Stewart Jr., told ''People Magazine'' in 1997 that his father had composed an album's worth of material, including a tribute to [[Miles Davis]] called "Miles and Miles."{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

On August 15, 2005, Stone drove his younger sister [[Vet Stone]] on his motorcycle to Los Angeles' [[Knitting Factory]], where Vet was performing with her Sly & the Family Stone [[tribute band]], the Phunk Phamily Affair. Stone kept his helmet on during the entire performance, and was described by one concertgoer as looking a little like [[Bootsy Collins]]. A film crew doing a documentary on Sly & the Family Stone, later released as ''[[On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone]]'', was at the show and captured this rare sighting on film. Stone, according to his web site, is producing and writing material for the group's new album. In addition, Stone renamed the group "Family Stone."{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

In 2009, the documentary film ''[[Coming Back for More (film)|Coming Back for More]]'' detailed his dire financial situation.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/18/sly-stone-living-on-welfare | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Sean | last=Michaels | title=Sly Stone living on welfare, claims documentary | date=August 18, 2009}}</ref> On August 18, 2009, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that the forthcoming documentary, ''Coming Back for More'' by Dutch director Willem Alkema, claims Stone is homeless and living off welfare while staying in cheap hotels and a camper van. The film alleges that Stone's former manager, [[Jerry Goldstein (producer)|Jerry Goldstein]], cut off his access to royalty payments following a dispute over a 'debt agreement', forcing Stone to depend on welfare payments.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/18/sly-stone-living-on-welfare | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=Sly Stone living on welfare, claims documentary | first=Sean | last=Michaels | date=August 18, 2009}}</ref> On September 25, 2011, Alkema wrote in the ''New York Post'' that Sly Stone was homeless and living out of a white camper-van in Los Angeles: "The van is parked on a residential street in Crenshaw, the rough Los Angeles neighborhood where ''Boyz n the Hood'' was set. A retired couple makes sure he eats once a day, and Stone showers at their house."<ref>{{cite web|last=Alkema|first=Willem|title=Funk legend Sly Stone homeless and living in a van in LA|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/the_rise_and_fall_of_sly_stone_qijyKoYzmAqer1PA0YogSJ|work=New York Post|date=September 25, 2011 |access-date=July 23, 2012}}</ref>

Stone had filed suit against Goldstein for $50&nbsp;million in January 2010, accusing Goldstein of cheating him out of years' worth of royalty payments for the songs he had written. He testified that he had not been paid any royalties between 1989 and 2009. The litigation further claimed that Goldstein had used fraudulent practices to convince him to give up the rights to his songs, and made the same claim about the Sly and the Family Stone trademark.<ref>The Detroit Free Press, January 30, 2010, page 11A</ref> Goldstein filed a countersuit for slander following a rant by Stone at the [[Coachella Festival]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2011/09/sly-stone-homeless-sly-and-the-family-stone.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Ministry of Gossip | date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> In January 2015, a Los Angeles jury ruled in favor of Stone, awarding him $5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sly-stone-awarded-5-million-in-royalty-lawsuit-20150128 | magazine=Rolling Stone | title=Sly Stone Awarded $5 Million in Royalty Lawsuit | first=Daniel | last=Kreps | date=January 28, 2015}}</ref> However, in December 2015, the award was overturned when an appellate court ruled that the trial judge had not told the jury to take into account the fact that Stone had assigned his royalties to a production company in exchange for a 50% ownership stake. In May 2016, Stone's attorneys appealed that decision.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-sly-stone-royalties-20151211-story.html |title=Why Sly Stone still can't collect royalties from his classic songs |first=Randall |last=Roberts |date=December 12, 2015 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://thesource.com/2016/07/23/sly-stone-of-the-legendary-sly-and-the-family-stone-awarded-5-million-in-unpaid-royalties/ |title=Sly Stone of the Legendary Sly and the Family Stone Awarded $5 Million in Unpaid Royalties |last=Eustice |first=Kyle |date=July 23, 2016 |work=The Source |access-date=January 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/821880/sly-stone-royalties-suit-gets-new-trial-after-appeal |title=Sly Stone Royalties Suit Gets New Trial After Appeal |last=Sieniuc |first=Kat |date=July 27, 2016 |publisher=Law360.com |access-date=January 8, 2017}}</ref>

===Mid-2000s tributes===
A Sly and the Family Stone tribute took place at the [[Grammy Awards of 2006|2006 Grammy Awards]] on February 8, 2006, at which Stone gave his first live musical performance since 1987. Sly and the original Family Stone lineup (minus Larry Graham) performed briefly during a tribute to the band, for which the headliners included [[Steven Tyler]], [[John Legend]], [[Van Hunt]], [[Nile Rodgers]] and [[Robert Randolph (guitarist)|Robert Randolph]]. Sporting an enormous blonde mohawk, thick sunglasses, a "Sly" beltbuckle and a silver lamé suit, he joined in on "I Want To Take You Higher." Hunched over the keyboards, he wore a cast on his right hand (the result of a recent motorcycle mishap), and a hunched back caused him to look down through most of the performance. His voice, though strong, was barely audible over the production. Stone walked to the front of the stage toward the end of the performance, sang a verse, and then, with a wave to the audience, sauntered offstage before the song was over.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9384446/slys_strange_comeback |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060303102112/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9384446/slys_strange_comeback |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 3, 2006 |title=Sly's Strange Comeback |last=Wilkinson |first=Peter |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=February 24, 2006 |access-date=September 9, 2009}}</ref> "He went up the ramp [outside the theater], got on a motorcycle and took off," Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the Grammy Awards show, told the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''.  Ehrlich also said that Stone had refused to leave his hotel room until he was given a police escort to the show and then waited in his car until the performance began.

A Sly and the Family Stone [[tribute album]], ''[[Different Strokes by Different Folks]]'', was released on July 12, 2005, by [[Starbucks]]' [[Hear Music]] label, and on February 7, 2006, by Epic Records. The project features both [[cover versions]] of the band's songs and songs which [[Sampling (music)|sample]] the original recordings. Among the artists for the set are [[The Roots]] ("Star", which samples "Everybody is a Star"), [[Maroon 5]] and [[Ciara]] ("[[Everyday People]]"), [[John Legend]], [[Joss Stone]] and [[Van Hunt]] ("[[Family Affair (Sly and the Family Stone song)|Family Affair]]"), [[The Black Eyed Peas]]' [[will.i.am]] ("Dance to the Music"), and [[Steven Tyler]], [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]], and [[Robert Randolph and the Family Band|Robert Randolph]] ("[[I Want to Take You Higher]]"). [[Epic Records]]' version of the tribute album, which included two additional covers ("Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey" and "Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin)") was released in January 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7567410/sly_stone_joins_family |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206040554/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7567410/sly_stone_joins_family |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 6, 2007 |title=Sly Stone Joins Family |last=Bradbury |first=Andrew Paine |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=August 18, 2005 |access-date=September 9, 2009}}</ref>

===Re-emergence===
On Sunday, January 14, 2007, Stone made a short guest appearance at a show of The New Family Stone band he supported at the [[House of Blues]].

On April 1, 2007, Stone appeared with the Family Stone at the Flamingo Las Vegas Showroom, after [[George Wallace (American comedian)|George Wallace]]'s standup act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2007/apr/02/566652378.html |title=Archive for April 2, 2007Las Vegas Sun |publisher=Lasvegassun.com |date=April 2, 2007 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102234517/http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2007/apr/02/566652378.html |archive-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref>

On July 7, 2007, Stone made a short appearance with the Family Stone at the San Jose Summerfest. He sang "Sing a Simple Song" and "If You Want Me to Stay", and walked off stage before the end of "Higher". Stone cut the set short, in part, because the band began their set over 90 minutes late and had to finish before a certain time. While many blamed Stone for this incident, others believed that the promoter was at fault.

A similar scene took place at the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]] on July 13, 2007, with over half the sold-out venue walking out in disgust before his stage exit. A day later at the Blue Note Records Festival in Ghent, Belgium, he left the stage after telling the audience that when waking up that morning he realized he was old, and so he needed to take a break now. He repeated this behavior the day after that while performing at the [[North Sea Jazz Festival]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

[[File:Sylvester Stone.jpg|thumb|right|215px|Stone in 2007.]]
As the tour progressed, however, Stone seemed to be more confident and animated, often dancing and engaging the audience. He performed "Stand", "[[I Want To Take You Higher]]", "Sing A Simple Song", "If You Want Me To Stay", and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", which at one point morphed into "Thank you For Talkin' To Me Africa", a track rarely performed in public. But the show was marred by sound problems and the vocals were barely audible through much of the show.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

On October 17, 2008, Sly played with the Family Stone at the [[Wells Fargo Center for the Arts]] in Santa Rosa, California. He played a 22-minute set and ventured offstage, telling the crowd "I gotta go take a piss. I'll be right back." He never returned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bohemian.com/bohemian/10.22.08/music-slystone-0843.html |title=Music & Nightlife &#124; Sly Stone |publisher=Bohemian.com |access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
On [[Memorial Day]], May 25, 2009, Stone re-emerged once again, granting an hour-long interview with [[KCRW-FM]], a Los Angeles [[NPR]] affiliate, to discuss his life and career.<ref>{{Citation |last=KCRW |title=Sly Stone Interview on KCRW "Morning Becomes Eclectic" |date=2009-05-25 |url=https://archive.org/details/SlyStoneInterviewOnKcrwmorningBecomesEclectic?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-02-13}}</ref>

On Labor Day, September 7, 2009, Stone appeared at the 20th annual African Festival of the Arts in Chicago, Illinois. He contributed a 15-minute set during [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]]'s show in which he performed his popular hits along with  Clinton's band. He left immediately after his short performance.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

On December 6, 2009, Stone signed a new recording contract with the LA-based [[Cleopatra Records]] and on August 16, 2011, ''[[I'm Back! Family & Friends]]'' was released, his first album since 1982's ''[[Ain't But the One Way]]''. The album features re-recorded versions of Sly & the Family Stone hits with guest appearances from [[Jeff Beck]], [[Ray Manzarek]], [[Bootsy Collins]], [[Ann Wilson]], [[Carmine Appice]] and [[Johnny Winter]], as well as three previously unreleased songs.<ref>{{Citation |title=I'm Back! Family & Friends - Sly Stone {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/im-back!-family-friends-mw0002184138#review |access-date=2025-02-13 |language=en}}</ref>

Stone has appeared in later years with George Clinton and performed with his daughter Novena's band, Baby Stone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sly Stone performing with daughter - UPI.com |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2009/05/26/Sly-Stone-performing-with-daughter/54361243392948/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2015, Sly Stone, along with four of his bandmates, appeared at a convention dedicated to honoring the band and its legacy. Called LOVE CITY CONVENTION, it occurred in Oakland at the Den Lounge inside the Fox Oakland Theater. Sly was in good spirits, answered questions from fans, and signed autographs.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

In October 2023, Stone's autobiography ''[[Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (book)|Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)]]'' was published.<ref name="2023-10-18_S">{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Jack |date=2023-10-18 |title=Sly Stone's Memoir Is Almost As Fascinating As the Fact That It Exists at All |language=en-US |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/culture/2023/10/sly-stone-book-thank-you-memoir-review.html |access-date=2023-11-25 |issn=1091-2339}}</ref> In December 2023, a single titled "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (2023 Mix)" was released by Cleopatra Records.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (2023 Mix) - Single by Sly Stone on Apple Music |date=2023-11-09 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/santa-claus-is-coming-to-town-2023-mix-single/1715553854 |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>