A decade-in-the-making documentary about Sly and the Family Stone will finally be released in 2019. Directed by Brady Spensor, the film covers the life and legacy of iconic funk artist Sly Stone and his battle to acquire royalties he was cheated out of, leading to poverty and homelessness.
"It took months before Sly even remembered my name," explains Spensor. "But soon after, I would get called at all hours, day or night. This was at a time in his life when things were really difficult for Sly. I became his friend at his most down and out, most financially broke and feel incredibly grateful for Sly's trust and participation allowing me to document the end of a tragic spiral, then the transition and the outcome of Sly winning a significant lawsuit that may have influenced the Music Modernization Act. When Sly finally collected his royalties after years of being financially strapped and homeless, it warmed my heart."
The film is titled Dance to the Streaming Music and will arrive via Winter State Entertainment in 2019. Listen to KEXP’s most-played Sly and the Family Stone song, “Underdog” from their 1967 debut record A Whole New Thing, below.
