Sly and the Family Stone May 2, 2008

The "First Family of Funk" returns with most of the original members, featuring Sly, Rose and Freddie Stone, Cynthia Robinson, Jerry Martini and Pat Rizzo. 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.