“In the beginning it was all about the music. Then it became all about other things,” says a former band member.
That’s the path of many bright, famous musicians. Struggle. It’s all about the art. Breakthrough. Success. Excess. Downward spiral. Comeback. Fizzle under the weight of drugs, drink, and celebrity. That’s the tale this informative Sly & The Family Stone tribute doc tells. That’s the notion created by Oscar®-winning filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, whose “Summer of Soul (or…When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” is a drummer/musician turned documentarian who redefined the soul music doc genre. With him at the helm, you know at least the music will be a thrill. And it is.
Sylvester Stewart was born in Denton, Texas, and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Vallejo, 31 miles from S.F. His love of music and development as an instrumentalist and vocalist can be traced back to his church roots and school. Which is typical of so many musicians, from Little Richard and Billy Preston to Luther Vandross and John Legend. The twist Stewart had in his life and location was an affinity for Black gospel and R&B, which paralleled his love for rock and pop music. Socially, he also fluctuated between the Black and white communities where he lived. His blurred musical tastes and relationships stayed with him the rest of this life.
Pulling his band together in various forms until it became the legendary Sly & The Family Stone meant keeping one foot in the evolution of Black life and the other in the general community, too. No wonder his band was an amalgamation of Black and white members, males and females. If that mixture wasn’t a first for an American band, they certainly were one of the OGs. Sly on lead vocals and guitar; sister Rose on vocals/keyboards; brother Freddie on vocals/guitar; high school friend Cynthia Robinson on vocals/horn; Italian/American Greg Errico on drums; Italian/American Jerry Martini on sax; a trio of backup singers; and the very famous Larry Graham on his thumping bass guitar.
Judiciously edited live concert footage, TV interviews with Dick Cavett, anecdotes from band members, and commentary from musicians with lots of street cred fill in all the details of Stone’s emergence. From a childhood prodigy who played various instruments to his musical prowess as a songwriter and engineer to his ascension into a world-class bandleader and style setter. When Chaka Khan, Jimmy Jam, Vernon Reid, Nile Rogers, George Clinton, and D’Angelo sing praises, you have to listen. When you see that Stone burned a path for future disciples, like Prince and Parliament Funkadelic, you have to know his influence will be felt for generations to come. And the man was flying high without a GPS! “If you’re Sly Stone, there’s no blueprint for what comes next,” one insider comments.
Watching, hearing, and feeling Sly Stone’s music as he creates, records, and performs it is like getting a front-row seat at the Fillmore East or West. Digging into raucous, groundbreaking tunes, rhythms and beats that became a commentary of the times. From the turbulent ‘60s to civil unrest and the Black Panthers to the beginning of the disco era. The times were transformative, and Sly & The Family Stone rode each crest. Their music was defining a generation of folks who broke down racial barriers and partied together. A freeing approach to fun and socialization influenced by a band that produced butt shaking, foot moving, head twirling and exceedingly vibrant music.
“Dance to the Music” (1968) got everyone out on the floor. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” (1969) describes how everyone wanted to feel in the summer heat. “Everyday People” (1969) brought folks together. “Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Again)” (1970) spoke to the virtue of being true to instincts. “Family Affair” (19171) exalted extended families like the band itself. Some songs eventually became #1 hits on the R&B and pop charts. Then money, fame, worldwide acclaim, and debauchery rolled in. Visit Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and www.nnpa.org for more