When Legends Almost United: The Untold Story of Sly Stone and Prince’s Missed Magic

Music history is filled with stories of collaborations that never quite came to fruition, but few are as tantalizing as the potential union of two of the most influential artists of the 20th century: Sly Stone and Prince. Both are iconic figures who transformed music with their revolutionary styles, blending funk, soul, and rock in ways that resonated across generations. Though their paths almost crossed in the late ’80s, the collaboration between these two legends was never meant to be.

Prince, often heralded as a musical prodigy, was undeniably influenced by Sly Stone, whose pioneering work with Sly and the Family Stone helped shape the sound of funk, soul, and rock. Prince’s admiration for Stone was so profound that he frequently covered Sly’s songs in his concerts. In fact, according to Setlist.fm, Prince performed “Stand!”—one of Sly Stone’s most iconic tracks—over 400 times between 1984 and 2016, even performing it just two months before his untimely passing.

The Rumor Mill: The Collaboration That Never Was

The rumors of a collaboration between Prince and Sly Stone began circulating in the late ’80s, with music enthusiasts and industry insiders eager to see the two musical geniuses join forces. However, despite the buzz, nothing materialized. Stone himself addressed the near-collaboration in his 2023 memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), shedding light on the circumstances behind the scenes.

According to Stone, the connection between him and Prince began through a chance encounter involving his girlfriend—later manager—Arlene Hirschkowitz. Arlene met Prince one night at the Roxbury on Sunset Boulevard, where she mentioned knowing Sly Stone. Prince, ever the enigmatic figure, communicated through his bodyguard, asking her about her relationship with Sly. When she replied that she was his “engineer,” Prince showed genuine interest and expressed his desire to work with Sly Stone. This initial meeting set the stage for what could have been a groundbreaking collaboration.

“She called me to tell me about the meeting. I wasn’t always on Prince, but that day I was,” Stone recalled. “I told her that I was excited about the idea and I meant it. But he never called.”

The disappointment was palpable, as Stone seemed ready to embrace the opportunity. However, for reasons unknown, the connection between the two artists remained just that—a missed opportunity.

A Legacy of Influence

Despite the collaboration that never came to fruition, Prince’s music continued to bear the unmistakable stamp of Sly Stone’s influence. In 1989, Prince’s label artist Tony LeMans released a song titled “Higher Than High,” which had strong parallels to Stone’s style and even credited Sly Stone on the back of the album. Stone, though not involved in the creation of the song, expressed pride that his music had inspired a new generation of artists, particularly one as significant as Prince.

Perhaps Prince felt that his music had absorbed enough of Sly’s essence to stand on its own. In 1991, Prince’s Diamonds and Pearls album featured the track “Walk Don’t Walk,” which many critics and fans noted contained distinct elements of Stone’s catalog. Drummer Michael B. recalled that Prince had introduced him to some of the earliest Sly Stone records, offering an education in funk that would influence his playing.

A Legacy of Missed Magic

The story of Sly Stone and Prince’s nearly realized collaboration remains one of music’s great “what-ifs.” Their shared influence on one another is undeniable, with each artist pushing the boundaries of genre and sound. Had they joined forces, the result could have been something truly groundbreaking—an album that blended the raw funk of Sly Stone with the genre-defying genius of Prince.

Instead, we are left with the music that each created separately, and while their paths never crossed in the way many had hoped, their legacies remain intertwined. Prince’s work continues to reflect the essence of Sly Stone’s influence, just as Sly’s catalog remains a cornerstone of the funk movement. The magic that could have been remains a tantalizing mystery, a reminder of the incredible potential that can exist when two musical legends almost come together.

In the end, while their collaboration never materialized, the influence they had on each other is something fans will continue to celebrate for generations to come.