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Kaliss traces the former Sylvester Stewart from Denton, Texas, beginnings through fame as Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone to the present. After the band’s fourth album, Stand! yielded monster hits in the title song, Everyday People, and the Aquarian party anthem I Want to Take You Higher, Sly rivaled James Brown and George Clinton as a progenitor of funk. Unlike the Godfather of Soul’s and Dr. Funkenstein’s, Sly’s career fizzled in the mid-1970s as substance abuse and other problems facilitated a huge reputation for missing gigs and heightened tensions within the band. Recently, Stone granted Kaliss his first face-to-face interview in 20 years, spawning this book. Kaliss finds Stone enigmatic but planning a comeback. He never quit making music—or being mysterious. At one point, he deserts Kaliss mid-chat. Mindful of Sly’s tendency to disappear . . . on whim, Kaliss just picks up the conversation later. A psychedelic ethereality infuses the book and, given Stone’s internal workings, rather confirms Kaliss’ veracity. Good, if vague in places; an important piece of pop-music history. --Mike Tribby

Review

"Finally, the definitive and story of the life and times of Sly Stone is here.... Kaliss delivers a vivid tale of funky love, music and drugs that nails the tale of Sly Stone." -- Rickey Vincent, author of Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One

[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]"It's amazing, although not exactly surprising, that Sly and the Family Stone's volatile story has never fully been told. But now it has, and the tellers include the elusive and elliptical Sly Stone himself. Whatever else he is, he's a stone genius; a major influence on R&B, funk, pop and rock musicians since he emerged in 1968. Through Sly and his band, this book offers additional lessons, about traversing life as well as about making music." -- Ben Fong-Torres, author of Not Fade Away:

A Backstage Pass to 20 Years of Rock & Roll and Becoming Almost Famous: My Back Pages in Music, Writing and Life[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]

"Jeff Kaliss gives his readers a fascinating tour of the life of an errant, irreverent, and iridescent musical legend." -- David Kapralik, former manager, Sly & the Family Stone[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]

"Jeff Kaliss's wonderful work captures the group, the times and its relevance." -- Dennis Watlington author of Chasing America: Notes from a Rock 'n' Soul Integrationist[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]

An account as upbeat as those early hits... it s a great tale. -- Mojo --Various

Meticulously reported. --_Vibe_[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]Essential reading for anyone interested in a musician who reshaped popular music. --_SF Weekly_[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]

--Various[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]Jeff Kaliss's wonderful work captures the group, the times and its relevance." -- Dennis Watlington author of Chasing America: Notes from a Rock 'n' Soul Integrationist[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]An account as upbeat as those early hits... it s a great tale. -- Mojo
Meticulously reported. --_Vibe_[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]Essential reading for anyone interested in a musician who reshaped popular music. --_SF Weekly_[HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED]Finally, the definitive and story of the life and times of Sly Stone is here.... Kaliss delivers a vivid tale of funky love, music and drugs that nails the tale of Sly Stone. -- Rickey Vincent, author of Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One. It's amazing, although not exactly surprising, that Sly and the Family Stone's volatile story has never fully been told. But now it has, and the tellers include the elusive and elliptical Sly Stone himself. Whatever else he is, he's a stone genius; a major influence on R&B, funk, pop and rock musicians since he emerged in 1968. Through Sly and his band, this book offers additional lessons, about traversing life as well as about making music. --Ben Fong-Torres, author of Not Fade Away: A Backstage Pass to 20 Years of Rock & Roll and Becoming Almost Famous: My Back Pages in Music, Writing and Life --Various

Jeff Kaliss gives his readers a fascinating tour of the life of an errant, irreverent, and iridescent musical legend. -- David Kapralik, former manager, Sly & the Family Stone Jeff Kaliss's wonderful work captures the group, the times and its relevance. -- Dennis Watlington author of Chasing America: Notes from a Rock 'n' Soul Integrationist An account as upbeat as those early hits... it s a great tale. -- Mojo Meticulously reported. -- Vibe Essential reading for anyone interested in a musician who reshaped popular music. --SF Weekly Finally, the definitive and story of the life and times of Sly Stone is here.... Kaliss delivers a vivid tale of funky love, music and drugs that nails the tale of Sly Stone. -- Rickey Vincent, author of Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One --Various