Vet Stone

Vet Stone (born Vaetta Stewart) is an American soul singer renowned for her contributions to the funk and gospel genres as a backing vocalist for Sly & the Family Stone, the influential band led by her brother Sly Stone (1943–2025), and as the lead singer of the group Little Sister.^[1]^[2] As the youngest of five siblings in a musically gifted family that included brothers Sly and Freddie Stone, sisters Rose and eldest Loretta Stone, she grew up in a devout African-American household affiliated with the Church of God in Christ, initially recording gospel music with her siblings as children in family ensembles like the Stewart Four.^[2]^[1]^[3] Stone's career began in her youth, singing with family ensembles like the Stewart Four and later the Heavenly Tones, a gospel group that evolved into the R&B trio Little Sister alongside Mary McCreary and Elva Mouton, achieving hits such as "You're the One" in 1970.^[4]^[1] She provided gospel-infused backing vocals as part of Little Sister on Sly & the Family Stone's debut album A Whole New Thing (1967) and continued collaborating on later projects, including albums like Fresh (1973), Small Talk (1974), and High on You (1975), while also performing live with the band during key periods.^[2]^[4]) In the 2000s, Stone played a pivotal role in reuniting the original Family Stone members for studio sessions and a European tour, fulfilling a promise to her late parents to revive her brother's career despite personal and logistical challenges.^[1]^[5] Following Sly Stone's death in 2025, her efforts continue to preserve the family's funk legacy, chronicled in her 2011 memoir Blood Is Thicker Than the Mud: How the Stones Became the First Family of Funk, which details her upbringing, survival of early health traumas, and the dynamics of growing up amid musical innovation and family turmoil.^[1]^[6]^[7]

Early life

Family background

Vaetta Stewart, professionally known as Vet Stone, was born on May 2, 1950, in Vallejo, California, as the youngest of five children to parents K.C. Stewart and Alpha Stewart. The Stewart family was deeply rooted in the Pentecostal tradition of the Church of God in Christ, where music and gospel singing played a central role in daily life and worship; K.C. worked as a janitor and maintenance man, while Alpha managed the household and supported the family's religious activities. This environment fostered a strong emphasis on harmony and performance from an early age, with the children regularly participating in church choirs and family musical sessions.^[8]^[9]^[2] The family originated in Denton, Texas, but relocated to Vallejo when second-born Sylvester (later Sly Stone) was just three months old in 1943, seeking improved economic prospects in the Bay Area. Vet's siblings were Loretta (born circa 1934), the eldest who pursued a non-musical path; Sylvester (born March 15, 1943); Rose (born March 21, 1945); and Freddie (born June 5, 1947). With the exception of Loretta, all the Stewart siblings adopted the surname "Stone" for their professional careers and became key members of Sly & the Family Stone, drawing directly from the gospel influences of their upbringing.^[10]^[2]^[11]^[12] The close familial bonds and shared musical heritage profoundly shaped Vet's early experiences, as she began singing alongside her parents and siblings as a young child, often standing on tables to reach the microphone during family performances. This foundation not only honed her vocal talents but also instilled a lifelong commitment to family collaboration in music.^[4]

Childhood and early health issues

The Stewart family had relocated from Denton, Texas, to the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-1940s, where they immersed themselves in the local Church of God in Christ community. Growing up in a deeply religious and musical household, Stone was surrounded by siblings including Sylvester (Sly Stone), Frederick (Freddie Stone), Rosemary (Rose Stone), and Loretta Stewart, all of whom shared a passion for gospel singing. The family frequently performed together at church services, fostering an early environment of harmony and performance that shaped Stone's lifelong connection to music.^[1] From a young age, Stone displayed a natural talent for singing, beginning to perform publicly as early as five years old. She would stand on a table in the family home to join her parents and siblings in song, blending her voice with theirs in impromptu gospel sessions. This childhood exposure not only honed her vocal abilities but also instilled a sense of familial unity through music, as the Stewarts occasionally recorded as the Stewart Four in the early 1950s. Stone's early years were marked by this vibrant, faith-centered upbringing in Vallejo and later San Francisco, where the family's strict yet supportive dynamic emphasized discipline and artistic expression.^[4] At around age 17, during her teenage years, Stone faced a severe health crisis that threatened her life and future aspirations. While giving birth to twins, she suffered complications from an untreated head injury sustained after falling out of bed, leading to a life-threatening condition that baffled medical professionals. Remarkably, she recovered fully in a short time, an event her family attributed to divine intervention and which reinforced their religious convictions. This ordeal, detailed in her memoir, highlighted the vulnerabilities of her early adulthood but did not derail her emerging musical path.^[1]

Career

Early musical beginnings (1960s)

Vet Stone began her musical journey in the vibrant family environment shaped by her siblings' talents and the local church community. Growing up as the youngest of five children in a musical household that included future Sly & the Family Stone members Sly, Freddie, and Rose Stone, she started singing gospel music at age five alongside her family at the local Church of God in Christ. By her early teens in the early 1960s, Stone was actively performing in church choirs, honing her vocal skills in the gospel tradition that would influence her later work.^[4] In the mid-1960s, while still in high school, Stone co-founded the gospel vocal group The Heavenly Tones with friends Mary McCreary and Elva Mouton, later joined by Tramaine Hawkins. The group, affiliated with the Ephesians Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California, drew mentorship from prominent gospel figures such as James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar, and Albertina Walker. They performed at local churches and events, blending harmonious vocals with traditional gospel arrangements that showcased Stone's emerging lead and background singing abilities.^[13]^[3] The Heavenly Tones marked Stone's professional debut with their 1966 album I Love the Lord, released on the Savoy Records Gospel label, featuring tracks like "He's All Right" and "Answer My Prayers Lord." This recording, which also appeared as a single on the Music City label, captured the group's youthful energy and spiritual fervor, establishing Stone as a promising talent in the Bay Area gospel scene at age 16. The album's success within gospel circles provided her early exposure and solidified her role as a key vocalist.^[14]^[4] Toward the late 1960s, Stone's career shifted toward secular music as her brother Sly recruited her and her Heavenly Tones collaborators to provide backup vocals for his burgeoning band, Sly & the Family Stone, formed in 1967. Initially contributing uncredited gospel-infused harmonies to early recordings and live performances, she helped bridge the family's gospel roots with the band's emerging funk and soul sound, appearing on tracks from their debut album A Whole New Thing (1967). This transition, amid personal challenges including a serious illness at age 17 from which she recovered, laid the groundwork for her more prominent role in the 1970s.^[2]^[4]

Peak years with Little Sister and Sly & the Family Stone (1970s)

In the early 1970s, Vet Stone rose to prominence as a lead vocalist in the R&B trio Little Sister, a group assembled and produced by her brother, Sly Stone, through his Stone Flower Productions label. Formed from the gospel roots of the Heavenly Tones, the lineup included Stone alongside Mary McCreary and Elva Mouton, delivering tight vocal harmonies over funky, psychedelic-infused tracks. Their debut single, "You're the One, Pt. 1," released in 1970, climbed to number 4 on the Billboard R&B singles chart, marking a breakthrough for the short-lived act.^[15] The group's sole album, Little Sister, arrived later in 1970, showcasing Sly Stone's songwriting and production with cuts like "Somebody's Watching You" and "Stanga," which blended soulful leads with the raw energy of Family Stone sessions. Despite the promise of their initial hit, the follow-up single "Somebody's Watching You" peaked at number 7 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 32 on the Hot 100 but failed to sustain the debut's momentum, and Little Sister disbanded soon after, though Stone occasionally performed with Sly & the Family Stone live during this era.^[15]^[16] Transitioning seamlessly into Sly & the Family Stone, Stone served as a core background vocalist from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, contributing to the band's evolving sound amid internal challenges and creative highs. Her harmonies graced the groundbreaking There's a Riot Goin' On (1971), where she helped shape the album's dense, introspective layers recorded at Sly's home studio.^[17] Stone's involvement deepened in the mid-1970s, as she provided backing vocals and studio support for albums like Fresh (1973), Small Talk (1974), and High on You (1975), often immersing herself in the recording process alongside Sly, whose lyrics drew from family influences including their mother's wisdom. These contributions captured the band's shift toward more personal, funk-driven expressions during a period of commercial success and turmoil.^[4]

Later career and Family Stone revival (1980s–present)

Following the decline of Sly & the Family Stone in the early 1980s, Vet Stone maintained a lower profile in secular music, shifting focus toward gospel performances and family commitments while occasionally contributing backing vocals to related projects.^[18] In the mid-2000s, Stone played a key role in reviving the Family Stone legacy through the formation of the Phunk Phamily Affair, a tribute ensemble that featured her alongside other former associates. The group debuted in 2005 at a benefit concert for the Los Angeles Braille Institute, where Stone provided vocals on classic material. Sly Stone made a surprise appearance at one such performance, signaling his endorsement of the effort.^[5] By 2006, the project evolved into the Family Stone Experience, a touring act that included Stone on background vocals and percussion, alongside originals like Cynthia Robinson and Rose Stone. This lineup performed at high-profile events, emphasizing the group's funk-soul catalog and drawing crowds with renditions of hits like "Dance to the Music" and "Everyday People."^[19] In 2007, Sly Stone officially rechristened the Phunk Phamily Affair as The Family Stone, bestowing his blessing and occasionally joining onstage during their international tours, such as a performance at London's Lovebox Festival. Stone's involvement extended to efforts to coax her brother out of seclusion, as detailed in her 2011 memoir Blood Is Thicker Than the Mud: How the Stones Became the First Family of Funk, which chronicles her personal interventions to support his return to performing.^[20]^[1] Throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s, Stone balanced sporadic Family Stone tours—featuring surviving originals like saxophonist Jerry Martini—with her longstanding role in gospel music. She served on the praise and worship team at Evangelist Temple Fellowship Center in Vallejo, California, pastored by her brother Freddie Stone since the mid-1990s, where she directed choirs and led services rooted in Pentecostal traditions. This church work echoed her early family gospel beginnings and provided a stable creative outlet amid the band's intermittent activity.^[21] The Family Stone continued touring into the 2020s, with Stone contributing to select dates, including virtual and live events that honored the group's influence on funk and soul. Her participation in a 2019 podcast interview highlighted ongoing collaborations with lifelong friends like Elva "Tiny" Mouton, underscoring her enduring commitment to the music despite health challenges in the family. Following Sly Stone's death on June 9, 2025, the family issued a statement noting his passing after battling COPD and other health issues, with Stone continuing to preserve the family's musical heritage through church music and occasional tributes as of November 2025.^[4]^[22]

Other endeavors

Publications

Vet Stone authored a memoir titled Blood Is Thicker Than the Mud: Little Sister from the Inside Out, published in November 2011.^[23] The book chronicles her experiences growing up as the youngest sibling in the Stone family, known as the "first family of funk," and details her efforts to support her brother Sly Stone amid his personal and professional challenges, including his struggles with addiction and attempts to revive his career on stage.^[6]^[1] In the memoir, Stone reflects on the dynamics of the Sly & the Family Stone band, her role in the earlier group Little Sister, and the broader impact of family ties on their musical legacy, emphasizing themes of resilience and healing through music.^[4] The publication received attention in music circles, with a review in Blues Blast Magazine highlighting its candid portrayal of familial bonds and the music industry's toll on artists.^[1] No additional books or major publications by Stone have been documented.^[24]

Media and public appearances

Vet Stone has made several notable media appearances, often reflecting on her family's musical legacy and her own contributions to soul and funk. In a 2019 interview on the Aced Out podcast, she discussed her early gospel work with the Heavenly Tones, studio experiences with Sly & the Family Stone, and her 2011 memoir Blood Is Thicker Than the Mud: Little Sister from the Inside Out, which details family dynamics and the band's history.^[4] The episode, hosted by Ace Alan and recorded in Berkeley, California, highlighted her insights into Sly Stone's songwriting inspirations drawn from their mother's wisdom.^[4] In 2013, Stone participated in a group interview with surviving Sly & the Family Stone members for Okayplayer, reuniting to discuss the band's landmark album Stand! and its social impact, including themes of unity and change.^[25] She shared reflections on the group's evolution and enduring influence on funk and soul music.^[25] Stone has also appeared in major publications tied to her brother's career. A 2007 Vanity Fair profile on Sly Stone featured her facilitating interviews and discussing upcoming performances, including a planned July 7 show in San Jose with her reformed Family Stone band.^[18] The article detailed her role in coordinating Sly's public returns, such as his surprise onstage appearance with her band at the House of Blues in Anaheim in January 2007, where he contributed vocals and keyboards to classics like "Higher" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)."^[18] Similarly, a Los Angeles Times piece that year quoted her on the band's Grammy tribute and fan anecdotes, while noting her leadership of the new Family Stone lineup for the Anaheim event.^[26] Public appearances have frequently involved live performances with tribute and revival groups. In August 2005, Stone led the Phunk Phamily Affair—a Sly & the Family Stone tribute band—at Hollywood's Knitting Factory club, with Sly Stone making a rare appearance by riding her there on his motorcycle.^[5]^[18] The band, benefiting the Los Angeles Braille Institute, showcased her vocals on family hits.^[5] Earlier that year, Sly joined her onstage at the same venue.^[26] In March 2007, her iteration of the Family Stone performed at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, again with Sly as a featured act.^[18] These events underscored her efforts to sustain the Family Stone's legacy through live revivals.^[26] In September 2025, following the death of her brother Sly Stone on June 9, 2025, Stone appeared in a YouTube interview titled "Funk, Family & Fire: Vet Stone joins Skyler Jett," discussing the enduring legacy of funk, family dynamics, and her personal reflections on Sly's influence and the healing power of music.^[27]