by Menzie Pittman
Great songwriters take you on a journey. Early this summer, we lost two of the most creative songwriters and influential artists to ever grace Funk and Pop Music — Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone and Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys.
I first heard Sly and the Family Stone with the release of their song “Dance to the Music” in 1967. I was no stranger to funk music because I had cut my teeth on James Brown, and like Brown’s music, there was something unique and infectious about the music of Sly and the Family Stone.
One magic element of Sly’s music was the energy. When Sly and the Family Stone performed live, they hit you like a freight train. They didn’t ask permission; their music grabbed you and demanded that you get up and “Dance to the Music.” The Greatest Hits compilation album released in 1970 is a collection of their most loved singles, and every song on it stands out in its own way. Their work is a masterclass on brilliant songwriting.
If amazing grooves and clever hooks weren’t enough to sell you, Sly had another secret weapon that brought the quality of the music to an even higher level: bassist Larry Graham. Graham is credited as being the father of slap bass, a technique he referred to as “thumpin’ and pluckin.” He developed the method while playing bass in duets with his mom, attempting to fatten the sound of the duo by sounding like both bass and guitar simultaneously. Graham’s beautiful bass tone added another level of dimension to the band’s sound, along with Cynthia Robinson’s unique vocal style and soulful trumpet playing.
Sly and the Family Stone were a completely one of a kind band. Sly’s vision paired with great musicians, progressive songwriting, and spirit that would make the Energizer Bunny quit his day job, provided the perfect storm for some of the best Pop music to ever blast through a transistor radio. Sadly, the story of the band ends like far too many in the music industry. Egos, amplified by substance abuse, caused Sly to become notorious for no-showing concerts and promotional events — in 1970, the band cancelled upwards of 20 of their 80 scheduled concerts and several others started late. As we know all too well, the sandcastle takes less time to crumble than to build. Fortunately for us, Sly’s legacy is timeless, and the gift of the band’s music is an indelible treasure.
It was only two days after Sly Stone’s death that the music industry lost another treasured artist, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys fame. The double whammy shook our industry and music lovers everywhere to the core. It’s no secret that many of our cherished icons have gotten up in years, and losing giants like Wilson is akin to losing a family member.
As I stated in my opening, I believe that great songwriters have the ability to take us on a journey, and Brian Wilson was one of the most respected songwriters in all of pop music. In particular, the harmonies of The Beach Boys have always been recognized as state of the art in modern music. We all have our favorite Beach Boys songs, as they have soundtracked our lives, and that was certainly a big part of their success story.
Wilson was often called a genius for his harmonic arrangements, innovative songwriting, and sonic approaches. He was a major influence on many industry giants, including Paul McCartney. The Beach Boys’ most acclaimed album Pet Sounds(1965) had a direct effect on how The Beatles approached their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Wilson was also greatly influenced by songwriter and record producer Phil Spector, who was known as the king of double-tracking and is credited with creating the “Wall of Sound” production technique.
As with Sly Stone, Brian Wilson had his demons. On a 1964 flight from Los Angeles to Houston, Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown which led to him taking a break from public life, and he began distancing himself from the band in general. As his battle with depression phased in and out, he continued to compose, writing classic pieces such as “Good Vibrations.” While his mental health struggles kept him somewhat detached from The Beach Boys and the public eye, his writing changed the face of Pop music forever, and did so with timeless grace.
So, a tip of the hat to Mr. Stone and Mr. Wilson, whose contributions to popular music will be cherished forever. Great songwriters take us on a journey, and their music becomes the soundscape of our lives. For that, we owe them a debt of gratitude, and will remember them fondly.
