By Marcel Visser (62.194.44.194) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 05:58 pm:

Not the regular stories but new and unknown is what I am interested in. Also need tour dates and places from 1969-1975.

Surprise me............

Marcel

By Eli (141.151.58.204) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 06:04 pm:

Sly had a radio show called Sly Time on KSOL in San Francisco and he was a&r man and producer for Autumn records and produced the Beau Brummels.

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 06:11 pm:

Autumn Records? Would he have had a hand in Bobby Freeman's "C'mon And Swim"?

By Eli (141.151.58.204) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 06:17 pm:

Could be, Fury. You may be right.
Tom Donohue was the owner.
He was a radio jock in SF and in Philly on WIBG.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 07:33 pm:

Sly wanted Harry Balk to manage him. This was after he developed this reputation for missing gigs etc. Harry didn't want anything to do with him.

By WaltB (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 09:43 pm:

Yes, folks Sly did have a hand in "The Swim" by Bobby Freeman.

By WaltB (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 09:46 pm:

I mean "C'mon & Swim"

By peterivera (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 11:41 pm:

I remember opening a show in Madison Square Garden to Sly and the Family Stone. I was thrilled to be there. After we played, I asked if I could meet Sly. I really loved him... He wouldn't meet me. He wouldn't come out of his dressing room. He was late for the stage. Someone said that he was in his dressing room doin a huge line of "Blow" I ran into him 20 years later in a Studio. I introduced myself...He didn't remember me or Rare Earth. That was strange because after our opening at the Garden...The crowd was yelling for more of Rare Earth...Even while he was trying to play his opening song...He was so loaded that he couldn't even sing the notes. I was so dissapointed.... He was so cool when he first started up....

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.192.23) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 12:02 am:

I mentioned Slys involvement with Autumn records over a month ago
it should be in the archives.
mel.

By Marcel (62.194.44.194) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 05:08 am:

Hi Pete,

Great story. 2 Friends of mine are working on a srious book about Sly & the Family Stone. They asked me if they could get back to you private with a couple more questions they have about this period? You can reach me at m.visser3@chello.nl. I will forward your info to them.

Thanks,

Marcel

By Keith Herschell - London (213.122.143.128) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 06:48 am:

Re: "Family Affair" and this is what I heard, on a radio show.
I think everyone would agree that the quality is pretty poor. During the lengthy period that it was recorded, Sly used to go out "On the Pull" (UK expression meaning to pick up girls). His chat up line included " I am currently recording a song that is going to be a massive hit, and am looking for a girl singer to be on it". Suitably impressed he would take them back to the studio, record them and then engage them in other activities ( maybe discuss the meaning of life, the universe, or they may have thought up something more interesting to do !!!!). He would subsequently erase them from the tape, and repeat the proces on the next night. Possibly one of our more technically knowledgable contibutors can comment.
( Legal note: This is not my story, only what I heard)

Keith

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 11:28 am:

My aunt was at the riot in Chicago's Grant Park when he was a no show at a free show. She said the whole thing was rather silly and she got out of the park pretty quickly!

My buddy Lee (drummer for the American Breed & pre-hit Rufus) played on the same bill as Sly in 1968 at a race track in Ohio. He said that they were incredible! I'm sure he hung out with them backstage, but I don't remember the details. I don't think that there was anything negative about the story. I'll ask him about it when I see him...

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 02:07 pm:

Sly stunk up Jenison field House at Michigan State University in 1970. Most disappointing concert ever....I think I talked about this on another thread....He was like a God to my little clique and he just sucked in every way imaginable....it's depressing even thinking about it..... now I gotta go see whats in the medicine cabinet....

Steve K

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 02:17 pm:

Well, I guess everyone has heard about him dating
Terry Melcher's mother, actress Doris Day. How
in the world did that come about? Not meeting
her, of course, but DATING her???? This would
have certainly been during his heavy-duty drug
days.

By peterivera (12.158.48.66) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 02:59 pm:

I tried to send you a message but to no avail....contact me again if you still want to hook me up with your friends and their book....Peter

By Greg C. (165.247.26.155) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 09:33 pm:

Sly Stone was tragic. A prime example of what drugs and making bad life choices can do.

I have been to three Sly Stone events in my life. Mind you I say "events" because he didn't show up at the first two concerts. Man, did the audience go off! It was a sell out both times and the group was at the height of their popularity. He did a no show.

That night, I had the chance to speak to one of the promoters in the parking lot outside the stadium and I asked him what happened. He was livid!! He said that Sly was back in his dressing room and he was so f---ed up on coke he didn't know up from down.

The third time when I finally got to see him I remember the radio ads in Detroit advertising the show. "He will show up, he WILL be there," they assured. It was an anemic turnout. I guess so many folks had been burned twice before, they told themselves it wasn't going to happen a third
time. It was an awful show. Sly was zooted and the band had a very difficult time following him.
Folks in the audience were walking out. It was a sad scene.

You don't hear much about him these days. I hope he's alright. Those drugs and his life choices destroyed his career...

By STUBASS (206.135.204.254) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 09:48 pm:

RANDY!!!...I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION!!!...OF COURSE SLY DID RECORD A VERSION OF "QUE SERA SERA" AS SORT OF A TRIBUTE TO DORIS I GUESS!!!...MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY MET THROUGH TERRY...WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS!!!...STUBASS

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 08:41 am:

Well, does anyone know more about the Sly/Doris
Day affair? This is the strangest relationship
I have ever heard of. It was true according to
several show business sources.

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.101) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 11:00 am:

Stubass mentioned that Terry Melcher was involved in the music business.

Specifically, Terry Melcher was a staff producer at Columbia and produced The Byrds and Paul Revere and the Raiders among others. He became something of a big shot in the LA Music scene. On a more gruesome note, his lack of interest in Charles Manson's musical aspirations apparently angered Manson and had something to do with why his former home was targeted as the site of multiple homicides.

Regards,
Ken

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 11:06 am:

Yes, I was aware of Terry at Columbia/Epic and
the Charles Manson issue. But WHAT would Sly
and Doris Day have in common????

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 02:45 pm:

RANDY!!!...THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION!!!...AS STATED!!!...*"QUE SERA SERA"*!!!...

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 03:28 pm:

Got it!!! ??? !!!!

By stephanie (68.50.216.139) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 04:33 pm:

What!! I thought that Doris Day thing was an urban legend....She really dated him!!! My God!!!
Im sorry but can you see Miss Day kicking it with Sly Stone!!! I dont think Sly just wanted to hold hands knowing his reputation ...hmmm it seems like Miss Day knows more than just taking care of stray dogs.....LOL

I mean what would these two talk about the films she did with Rock Hudson!!! Or would they talk about the song Family Affair or Dance to the Music? Maybe she was a mother figure to him I dont know but this is the craziest thing I have ever heard of since Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart. Please if anyone knows more about this how long did they last. Did she like being with Sly, I know he is not a stupid guy but if he was getting high and all of this what would Doris want with him. I know she may not be the apple pie image she potrays to be and I dont expect her to but Sly Stone!! I could believe James Brown before I could believe this. I had heard this as a little girl and never believed it and then when I saw Que Sera Sera on his album I thought maybe it was a coincidence but if its true (and yes I do like gossip Im ashamed to say when it comes to my heroes) bring it on!!!
No sex I just want to know what these two did or had in common.
Stephanie (an inquisitive STUBASS angel intern)