06-17-2025, 01:01 PM
Two massive musical talents recently passed that I think are noteworthy to those of us of a certain age. Or, really anyone of any age.
Sly Stone (1943-2025, 82)
A pioneer of funk, rock, and soul and how to simmer them all in a delicious stew, Sly Stone (born Sylvester Steward in Denton, TX) died of complications related to COPD, in his Granada Hills home. He was raised in Vallejo and became brobdingnagian on the Bay Area music scene, starring at Woodstock. My favorite album of the Family Stone remains Stand! I saw him in 1982 at a run down club on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. He was not at his best (don't do drugs kids - amazed he made it to 82) although I remember the bassist being insanely good. At my first professional job in the late '80s, our marketing director was once his manager in the early '70s. I think we were out drinking after a big project interview when I wondered aloud about the dichotomy between her obvious professionalism and the freakin' Family Stone. 'Those were different times. No wait, these are different times.'
Brian Wilson (1942 - 2025, 9 days shy of 83)
Another Californian, Brian Wilson was one of the giants of pop, with a recording career that spanned seven decades. No less than Paul McCartney calls God Only Knows the best pop song ever recorded. His struggles with mental illness are widely chronicled and kudos to him for living a truthful life. The Beach Boys were so universal that my parents had some of their albums and everyone could sing Beach Boys around any campfire. I'm sure Mom and Dad thought the goats on the cover of Pet Sounds were cute for the kiddos, and boy did I wear that one out. Presently I am on the hunt for Smile, the originally unfinished successor to Pet Sounds, but given recent events, might just cave and head to Amazon. Unfortunately I never saw them or any of their iterations in person. Just an original tube stereo console, then an 8-track player, then a cassette player, then CDs and solid state, and back to vinyl and a tube amplifier these days.
Sly Stone (1943-2025, 82)
A pioneer of funk, rock, and soul and how to simmer them all in a delicious stew, Sly Stone (born Sylvester Steward in Denton, TX) died of complications related to COPD, in his Granada Hills home. He was raised in Vallejo and became brobdingnagian on the Bay Area music scene, starring at Woodstock. My favorite album of the Family Stone remains Stand! I saw him in 1982 at a run down club on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. He was not at his best (don't do drugs kids - amazed he made it to 82) although I remember the bassist being insanely good. At my first professional job in the late '80s, our marketing director was once his manager in the early '70s. I think we were out drinking after a big project interview when I wondered aloud about the dichotomy between her obvious professionalism and the freakin' Family Stone. 'Those were different times. No wait, these are different times.'
Brian Wilson (1942 - 2025, 9 days shy of 83)
Another Californian, Brian Wilson was one of the giants of pop, with a recording career that spanned seven decades. No less than Paul McCartney calls God Only Knows the best pop song ever recorded. His struggles with mental illness are widely chronicled and kudos to him for living a truthful life. The Beach Boys were so universal that my parents had some of their albums and everyone could sing Beach Boys around any campfire. I'm sure Mom and Dad thought the goats on the cover of Pet Sounds were cute for the kiddos, and boy did I wear that one out. Presently I am on the hunt for Smile, the originally unfinished successor to Pet Sounds, but given recent events, might just cave and head to Amazon. Unfortunately I never saw them or any of their iterations in person. Just an original tube stereo console, then an 8-track player, then a cassette player, then CDs and solid state, and back to vinyl and a tube amplifier these days.