Sly and the Family Stone

In the late ’60s Sly and the Family Stone fused black rhythms and a psychedelic sensibility into a new pop/soul/rock hybrid that drew both white and black audiences. The Family Stone’s music predated disco and inspired the many black self-contained bands that emerged in the ’70s; along with James Brown, the Family Stone virtually invented ’70s funk, and their impact has proven lasting and widespread.