Questlove of The Roots is sharing his love of funk legend Sly Stone to the big screen. As a follow-up to his Academy Award winning documentary Summer of Soul, the musician will direct an unnamed documentary about the founder of Sly and the Family Stone.
Another musician who dabbles in film, Common, will serve as one of the film’s producers. The documentary is set to follow the life and career of Stone, and influential music and fashion icon of the 20th century, who frequently challenged the status quo and walked the line between superstardom and representing black America.
“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA… it’s a black musician’s blueprint. To be given the honor to explore his history and legacy is beyond a dream for me,” Questlove said in a statement.
He added, “Sly’s influence on popular music and culture as a whole is immeasurable, and what his career represents is a parable that transcends time and place,” Amit Dey, head of MRC Non-Fiction, said in a statement. “Questlove’s vision, sensitivity and reverence brings the urgency that Sly’s story and music deserve, and we’re excited to be working with him to bring Sly’s story to life.”
Questlove initially connected with Sly Stone in Summer of Soul, which explored the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a music festival which did not receive the same mainstream coverage as another famous music festival of that year, Woodstock.
Following his success with Summer of Soul, Sly Tone is not the only musician on Questlove’s to-do. He is also an executive producer on an upcoming film about James Brown alongside fellow bandmate Black Thought and The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger.
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