Sly and The Family Stone have always been one of my favorites.

from the Sly Stone web site:

Biography
Sly and the Family Stone are credited as one of the first racially integrated bands in music history, belting their message of peace, love and social consciousness through a string of hit anthems that fused R&B, soul, funk and rock n roll. On 'Different Strokes by Different Folks' a stylistically, culturally and racially disparate group of chart-toppers mirrors that idealistic diversity. Understand this: There was no precedent for Sly & the Family Stone.

Back in 1967, when the interracial, mixed-gender combo burst onto the scene with their debut album, the burgeoning rock & roll subculture was, as always, hungry for fresh kicks and different sounds. But no one was quite prepared for the magical, multi-faceted musical mix Sly and company served up. Their music was an inspired blend of rock, soul, pop, jazz, and an emerging genre soon to be dubbed funk. It packed a powerful, joyous wallop, delivering all the things one hoped to find in music: The thrill of the new, the excitement of the unexpected, a galvanizing groove, and lyrics that actually said something.

In fact the first concert i ever went to feaured Sly and The Family Stone and The Jackson Five, I was probably around 11 years old, it was some kind of benefit for Africa that these cool friends of my moms' took me to, at the Forum in Los Angeles, it was incredible of course. One of my first blogs here was also about Sly And The Family Stone. But let me get to the topic of this blog post, I just read this stuff from our friend Travis over at Buddyhead.

Sly Stone, troubled funk genius and head-honcho of the legendary Family Stone, has signed a new record deal with L.A.-based Cleopatra Records. Which in true Sly-fashion is a weird choice. Sly & The Family Stone are now label-mates with such random acts as Christian Death, Dokken and Winger!

The good news is Sly has finished a new album that’ll be his first new material since 1983’s “Ain’t But The One Way” when it hits stores this summer of 2010! We can’t wait to hear what it sounds like!

Also coming out in 2010 are two new Sly documentaries! Check out the trailers.

“Higher: The Story Of Sly Stone”:



“Coming Back For More: Finding Sly Stone”