Wednesday February 17, 2021 “Everyday People” Sly & the Family Stone

The influence of African American music didn’t end in the fifties but continued into the sixties, the seventies, the eighties, the nineties and right up through 2021.

 Here’s Sylvester Stewart, Sly of Sly and the Family Stone with a sound that was both so innovative and provocative when he introduced it in 1968 that it changed the texture of music at that moment while delivering a message that is as relevant today as it was back then.

The ‘family stone’ was actually composed of Sly’s brother and singer/guitarist Freddie Stone, sister and singer/keyboardist Rose Stone as well as trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, drummer Greg Errico, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and soon to be legendary bassist Larry Graham. It was the first internationally successful interacial band composed of both men and women

The band was unfortunately torn apart by Sly’s substance problems.

The organization Turnaround Arts, which works to provide music education in schools felt that this song and its message was so important that they created a video of various luminaries performing this song. Among those appearing in the clip are Jack Johnson, Keb' Mo, Jason Mraz, Paula Abdul, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Banks, Forest Whitaker and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Pepper

It's worth a watch here.

Stay safe and well...and oooh sha sha we got to live together.

Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong

My own beliefs are in my song

The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then

Makes no difference what group I'm in 

I am everyday people, yeah yeah 

There is a blue one who can't accept the green one

For living with a fat one trying to be a skinny one

And different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo

Oh sha sha we got to live together 

I am no better and neither are you

We are the same whatever we do

You love me you hate me you know me and then

You can't figure out the bag I'm in 

I am everyday people, yeah yeah

There is a long hair that doesn't like the short hair

For bein' such a rich one that will not help the poor one

And different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo

Oh sha sha we got to live together

There is a yellow one that won't accept the black one

That won't accept the red one that won't accept the white one

And different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo 

I am everyday people