Throwback: Happy 82nd Birthday, Sly Stone!

2025 is rushing by. It’s March. And March is a very busy month in music history. 

• The Who frontman  Roger Daltrey celebrated his 81st birthday on March 1
• Karen Carpenter was born 75 years on March 2
• Lou Reed one of the most influential figures of the past 75 years or so, was born 83 years ago on March 2
• Tone Lōc celebrated his 59th birthday on March 3
• The legendary soul artist Bobby Womack was born on this day 81 years ago
• Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted celebrated his 62nd birthday on March 4
• Pink Floyd‘s David Gilmour celebrated his 79th birthday on March 6
• The Monkees‘ Mickey Dolenz celebrated his 80th — yes, 80th! — birthday on March 8
• The pioneering Ornette Coleman was born 95 years ago on March 9
• U2‘s Adam Clayton celebrates his 65th — yes, 65th! — birthday on March 13
• Roy Haynes was born 100 years ago on March 13
• The legendary Lightnin’ Hopkins was born on this day 113 years ago

Sly and the Family Stone frontman Sly Stone celebrates his 82nd birthday today. Stone’s genre-defying take on soul features elements of gospel, funk, rock and more — but perhaps more important, his backing band featured one of the first mixed race, mixed gender bands of their day. The songs were also fucking great: They mixed humor, political and social commentary and more in a way that inspired countless others.

Happy birthday, Sly! May there be many, many more!