Why This Crazy Guy Was A Big Deal
Sly Stone performed at the Grammys last night, his first public appearance in a really long time. This reclusiveness prompts this AP reporter to refer to him as "The JD Salinger of Funk," which is most hopefully a new trend in nicknaming, (The Ayn Rand of the Hood, etc.) After reading the article, many may wonder why this guy performing was a big deal, since his performance at the Grammys was regarded as lukewarm. Well, evidently, the performance almost did not happen as close as the week of the event. This LA Times article details the rehearsal, which makes Sly Stone sound more like the ODB of Funk.
Click to read more and see several videos of Sly & The Family Stone performances from their peak:
Here are videos of Dance To The Music & Love City, both on the Ed Sullivan Show, and I Want To Take You Higher at an outdoor festival. Unfortunately, as good as the music is, all three videos are eclipsed by this post-performance interview on the Dick Cavett show. Reading that Dave Chappelle introduced the Grammy performance, it was difficult not to imagine Chappelle playing this drugged out Sly Stone character on his own show. Truly a sight to behold, reminscent of Crispin Glovers appearance on the early Letterman show.
