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Family Stone meets Dane dances

Still “Everyday People”

by Jonathan Gramling

It's hard to believe that it's been 36 years since Woodstock, the quintessial rock & roll defining moment for the baby boom generation. Sly and the Family Stone are considered to be one of the best acts that performed at Woodstock. The Family Stone was composed of Sly Stone and several family members and friends. It was the first nationally-renown interracial rock group and was a precursor to the funkadelic music movement of the 1970s.

Vet Stone, "Lil Sis" of Sly Stone, was only 19 years old when they played Woodstock. "It was scary there for a moment because I was the youngest," Stone said during a telephone interview with The Madison Times. "We were late. There were a lot of trailers and camps. People, at that time, just wanted to show love and what have you. As far back as you could see, there was nothing but people. Of course, we didn't know we were making history. We were doing what we did. We were singing, entertaining, and doing what we do. It was just another gig. Now we look at it and go 'Wow, that was making history.' It was the way that God had it planned."

While The Family Stone is often identified with the psychedelic generation, it was actually coming from a totally different place. "We were deeply rooted in gospel," Stone said. "We actually all started singing in the church, gospel songs. It wasn't until Sly was 16 years old that he decided he wanted to sing secular music. My older sister played the piano. We stood on the table in church and we would sing. I think our message in songs like 'Everyday People' came from the gospel. We were raised in a gospel environment learning about people and what God expects of his people. That is what was really deeply rooted in Sly's lyrics.

Even when Stone and the rest of the family were busy recording psychedelic rock and roll, they never left their gospel roots. "Even during the years when I did the background vocals for Sly, the group I was with, Heavenly Tones, did a lot of background voice vocals," Stone said. "We made the vocals Saturday night and went to church Sunday morning and sang. So we never really left. It's something we have always done, even now. I go to shows for Phunk Phamily Affair, which is my band. When I'm not on the road, I'm here with my other brother Freddie, Pastor Freddie now. He is my pastor and I am on the praise team and sing gospel. So I never left it. It has always been a part of my life. And I'm sure it always will be."

Stone will be appearing in Madison August 5-7 along with Cynthia Robinson, another Family Stone alumnae, and Grammy Award winner Skyler Jett. They will make an appearance at Dane Dances August 5 and will end their visit on Sunday when they will be a part of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church service at 10:45 a.m. - everyone is welcome. "We hope we will have just a joyous time at Mt. Zion," Stone said. "I am looking forward to it. You'll hear more than a pin drop on Sunday."

This weekend, we will "Stand!," "Dance to the Music," and have a "Family Affair." See you there.