The legendary musician Sly Stone, pioneer of funk and soul, died at the age of 82.

American musician Sly Stone, who along with his group Sly & the Family Stone had a huge impact on the funk and soul scene in the 1970s, died at the age of 82.

"After a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, a close friend, and his extended family," his family said in a statement. "Despite our sorrow, we are comforted in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and influence future generations. Sly was a towering figure, a pioneering innovator, and a true visionary who changed the face of pop, funk, and rock music. His iconic songs have left an indelible imprint on the world, and his influence remains unshakable."

Stone combined soul, psychedelic rock, and gospel in his group to create energetic and optimistic songs. The group is considered one of the leading representatives of the funk sound of the 1970s, alongside James Brown and others. Their big hits include "Everyday People," "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," and "Family Affair," which topped the charts in the US, as well as "Dance to the Music" and "I Want to Take You Higher."

Their 1971 album "There's a Riot Goin' On," which dealt with political and social themes in the shadow of the end of the war, is considered by many to be one of the greatest albums of the 20th century, as it was created primarily by Stone himself.

Stone, born Sylvester Stewart in Texas and raised in the San Francisco area, began his career in a family gospel quartet called The Stewart Four. Over time, he became a key figure in the counterculture music scene in San Francisco. In 1966, he combined his group Sly and the Stoners with his brother Freddie's group The Stone Souls to create Sly & the Family Stone.

The group's breakthrough came with the hit "Dance to the Music" in 1967, and their 1969 album "Stand!" sold over 3 million copies. The group, composed of musicians with diverse ethnic and stylistic backgrounds, attracted a diverse audience and participated in iconic festivals such as Woodstock and the Harlem Cultural Festival.

In the 1970s, internal problems within the group intensified, with the group often canceling concerts, and as drug use increased, the group began to disintegrate. Stone recorded the album "There's a Riot Goin' On" almost entirely by himself, using an early drum machine. Subsequent albums "Fresh!" and others were also recorded primarily by him, while the group finally dissolved in 1975, but Stone continued to release material under the group's name.

Despite his enormous influence on the disco scene, Stone failed to sustain his career in the late 1970s, and his cocaine addiction worsened. He collaborated with musicians like Funkadelic and Bobby Womack, but did not release new albums. In the 1980s, he was arrested for cocaine possession and driving under the influence, after which he fled California to Connecticut, where he was sentenced to 55 days in jail and 5 years of probation. Due to these difficulties, he hardly appeared in public in the 1990s, only returning in 2006 for a Grammy tribute concert for Sly & the Family Stone. His last album "I'm Back! Family & Friends" was released in 2011 and contained references to hits and new songs.

In 2015, Stone won a lawsuit against his former manager for stolen royalties in the amount of $5 million, but did not receive these funds due to previous agreements with the record company. Financial difficulties led to the fact that for most of his later years, Stone lived in poverty - in 2011 he lived in a trailer in a residential neighborhood in Los Angeles and relied on an elderly retired couple for food.

In their statement, the family revealed that they intend to make a film about his life, the script for which Stone completed in his final days. "As a testament to his enduring creative spirit, Sly recently completed a new