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Questlove and Viola Davis pay tribute to Sly Stone

Questlove and Viola Davis have paid tribute to Sly and the Family Stone star Sly Stone following his death.

The soul musician died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and "other underlying health issues" at his home in Los Angeles on Monday. He was 82.

The Roots star Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson, who directed the documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), posted a lengthy tribute to its subject on Instagram.

"Sly Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, left this earth today, but the changes he sparked while here will echo forever. From the moment his music reached me in the early 1970s, it became a part of my soul," he began. "His work looked straight at the brightest and darkest parts of life and demanded we do the same.

"As I reflect on his legacy, two lines haunt me: 'We deserve everything we get in this life' - a line from the Sly Lives! documentary that feels like both a warning and a manifestation - and, of course, the eternal cry of Everyday People: 'We got to live together!' Once idealistic, now I hear it as a command. Sly's music will likely speak to us even more now than it did then. Thank you, Sly. You will forever live."

Sly Lives! premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and began streaming on Disney+ the following month.

Meanwhile, Oscar-winning actress Davis heaped praise on Stone's music via Instagram, writing, "A true artist. An alchemist. A visionary. You didn't just break barriers - you blew a hole through the music industry, forever changing it. Your brilliance will echo through generations. We will always speak your name, Sir Sly Stone."

Elsewhere, Chaka Khan told her followers that she was "deeply saddened" by the death of "a true innovator and pioneer of funk who reshaped music and culture".

Musicians including Paul Stanley, Fatboy Slim, Chuck D and Clairo also mourned Stone's passing on social media.

Photo: Cover Media
Source: Cover Media
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