Sly Stone performs at Coachella in 2010 (Getty Images)

I'm happy for Sly! He been fighting this for a LONG time!!!!

It's very important for black artist to get what is rightfully theirs. It's the reason why is so adamant about OWNING & CONTROLLING his legacy! By owning his masters & music publishing company.. Plus this is one of his musical idols...

http://www.thewrap.com/sly-stone-wins-5m-in-lawsuit-against-ex-manager-after-period-of-homelessness/

[Edited 1/27/15 21:28pm]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

27, 2015 @ 5:27 pm

Sly Stone performs at Coachella in 2010 (Getty Images)

Known for such hits as “Everyday People” and “Dance To The Music,” Stone claimed he was robbed of royalties

Legendary funk artist Sly Stone, who sued his former manager and an entertainment attorney, saying they diverted and misappropriated royalties owed him for more than 20 years, was awarded $5 million by a Los Angeles jury Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Superior Court panel deliberated for about two days before finding in favor of the singer — whose real name is Sylvester Stewart — and against ex-manager Gerald Goldstein, lawyer Glenn Stone and Goldstein- affiliated entertainment company Even St. Productions Ltd.

“They just wanted to punch this poor guy in the face,” Nicholas Hornberger, one of Stone’s attorneys, said after the verdict.

Hornberger said the jury would have been justified in awarding even more money. He said the case illustrated how many artists in the music business, as well as the film industry, are victimized by the people who they trust to look after their interests.

The jury assessed $2.5 million in damages against Even St. Productions, $2.45 million against Goldstein and $50,000 against attorney Glenn Stone.

The former frontman for the band Sly and the Family Stone, testified he filed his lawsuit in January 2010 to get what he believed was owed to him. “I couldn’t get any money,” the 71-year-old Stone said.

When another of his attorneys, Robert Allan, inquired if Stone received any royalty statements from Goldstein or anyone else from 1989-2009, he said, “Not that I know of.”

According to Hornberger, Goldstein used the allegedly diverted royalties to live a lavish lifestyle and purchase luxurious properties. Attorney Gregory Bodell, on behalf of Goldstein and Glenn Stone, said the singer broke promises in a 1988 agreement to make new records as part of a joint effort to revitalize his career.

Bodell said the singer owned a half interest in both companies and was paid millions of dollars during his association with Goldstein and Glenn Stone. However, the jury found in favor of Stone in a cross-complaint filed by the defense.

Stone formed Sly and the Family Stone in 1966, and the group was successful for a decade before breaking up in the mid-1970s. Their hits included “Everyday People,” “Dance To The Music,” “Family Affair,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and “Thank You.”

Stone developed a cocaine problem and eventually fell on hard times, during which he lived out of a camper with electricity provided by a family in the Crenshaw District, according Hornberger.

Allan said a second phase of trial to determine other issues in the case will take place later before Judge Mark Mooney instead of a jury.

Goldstein is himself a former musician who was once a member of The Strangeloves. He co-wrote The Angels’ “My Boyfriend’s Back” and “Come on Down to My Boat Baby” for Every Mother’s Son. He also produced music for the band War.

I'm happy for Sly! He been fighting this for a LONG time!!!!

It's very important for black artist to get what is rightfully theirs. It's the reason why is so adament about OWNING & CONTROLLING his legacy! By owning his masters & music publishing company.. Plus this one of his musical idols...

http://www.thewrap.com/sly-stone-wins-5m-in-lawsuit-against-ex-manager-after-period-of-homelessness/

[Edited 1/27/15 18:19pm]

I hope Sly has someone who will help him invest and spend the money wisely so that he can have a safe and comfortable old age.

madhattter said:

Its now time for him to produce new music with meaningfull lyrics and hooks that lay within his genius.

Yes...and leave the dope alone, Sly. I knwo how fun it is, but you've had enough, my brotha!

UncleJam said:

UncleJam said:

madhattter said:

Its now time for him to produce new music with meaningfull lyrics and hooks that lay within his genius.

Yes...and leave the dope alone, Sly. I knwo how fun it is, but you've had enough, my brotha!

I agree...it's time for him to LEAVE THE DOPE ALONE! Get healthy and get his life back on track.There is still alot of interest in Sly and his music.He could be doing great things,but he's gotta leave the drugs alone.

I thought his daughter denied he was homeless, and the story was he actually likes staying in his van from time to time. We know he's got a house an those custom bikes. Whatever the case, I'm glad he's getting money he's owed so he can live any life he pleases.

SoulAlive said:

madhattter said:

I'm happy for Sly..Long overdue. This will really help him get back on the right track (no pun intended) personally and finacially. And like Supersoul said hopefully he'll have the right people helping him invest.

SuperSoulFighter said:

Uhh... Something went wrong. I just wanted to say I agree with everybody. Good for Sly, he deserves it. And I hope he spends the money wisely. I also agree with KCool, people may bitch about Prince being a control freak, but when you see this kind of things happen to artists (not just black, it happened to Leonard Cohen too) then yes, I can understand P doesn't want to go through that and stay in charge. And now let's hope for some good news about George Clinton as well!

-

After being happy and yet still concerned for Sly, He was the first person I thought of. I hope George will get justice one day too. And likewise I hope he too will stay away from that STUFF.

The same Jerry Goldstein is currently screwing most of the surviving members of WAR. I can only hope this emboldens them to press against him and prevail. He's a real piece of work.

Hooray for Sly, and I DO hope he manages to find his way again.

Inside Sly Stone’s $5 Million Verdict: Opposing Attorneys Speak Out, What’s Next (Exclusive)

CULTURE | By Pamela Chelin And Jason Hughes on January 27, 2015

Getty Images

“This is endemic of the entertainment industry,” Stone’s attorney Nicholas Hornberger tells TheWrap. “There are bad people who leech off people and this has got to stop.”

Sly Stone, frontman for the iconic funk band Sly and the Family Stone, was awarded $5 million by a Los Angeles jury on Tuesday in a lawsuit against his former manager and entertainment attorney which alleged that the two diverted royalties owed to him over a span of more than two decades.

“Sly’s a deeply religious guy and he loves everybody and they just took him,” one of Stone’s attorneys, Nicholas Hornberger, told TheWrap exclusively after the verdict. “It’s sad that people would treat other people like that.”

The jury found in favor of Stone — whose real name is Sylvester Stewart — against former manager Gerald Goldstein, attorney Glenn Stone and the entertainment company Even St. Productions. Stone was represented by attorneys Robert Allan and Hornberger.

Greg Bodell, an attorney for the defense, told TheWrap exclusively that they see this as a $2.5 million dollar verdict rather than a $5 million dollar one.

“Effectively what we understand is that Even St. underpaid Mr. Stewart by $2.5 million under his employment agreement and we want Mr. Goldstein and Mr. Stone to pay that $2.5 million, period,” Bodell said, pointing out that Sly Stone was a co-owner of Even St. with Goldstein and Glenn Stone.

The breakdown of jury damages assesses $2.5 million against Even St., another $2.45 million against Goldstein and $50,000 against Glenn Stone. Even St. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2013.

Stone formed Sly and the Family Stone in 1966, and the group was successful for a decade before breaking up in the mid-1970s. Their hits included “Everyday People,” “Dance To The Music,” “Family Affair,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and “Thank You.”

Goldstein is himself a former musician who was once a member of The Strangeloves. He co-wrote The Angels’ “My Boyfriend’s Back” and “Come on Down to My Boat Baby” for Every Mother’s Son. He also produced music for the band War.

According to Hornberger, Goldstein met Stone after he’d been out of the music business for awhile and offered to “re-create his career,” but insteade took advantage of him.

“I’m not so sure that Sly’s time had passed by then, but Goldstein talks him into it and flatters him and says he’ll take over the management of Sly’s business; handle his royalties,” Hornberger said. “But he doesn’t. He just starts taking his money through Goldstein’s lawyers and bad management and his accountants, etc. and so forth. Starts taking royalties and supposedly gets Sly into a negative position where he can’t pay off Goldstein.

“This is not a case that is [just] endemic of the record industry,” Hornberger told TheWrap. “This is endemic of the entertainment industry. There are bad people who leech off people and this has got to stop.”

Hornberger credited Allan with coming to Stone’s aid both personally and legally, calling him “the savior for Sly.” Stone struggled with cocaine addiction, and was purportedly at one time living in a trailer with electricity provided by another family.

Bodell paints a different picture, saying that it was Sly Stone who approached Goldstein and Glenn Stone about revitalizing his career. “At the time, he had no royalties because he owed the IRS over $10 million in taxes,” Bodell told TheWrap, stating that it was his clients who helped Stone eliminate that debt.

“There were three streams of royalties – Sony, Warner-Chappell, and BMI. BMI royalties were going to the IRS. Sony [royalties] were not being received by him because Sony had pre-paid and were repaying themselves and those [weren’t going to be] repaid until the late 1990s … Warner-Chappell were being taken by his prior manager so when [Stone] met my client, he had no royalties and would likely have not seen any again.

“My clients were not found liable for stealing his royalties,” Bodell told TheWrap. “The company was found failing to pay monies due under a contract and the jury determined that they got the money and should put it back in to take care of [Sly Stone].”

According to Allan, a second phase of the trial will take place in front of a judge to determine other issues in the case.

“We’re coming back to court in a few weeks,” Hornberger told TheWrap. “I believe the judge will rule for us because he has to be impressed by the fact that the jury was unanimous. I want to see Sly get back on his feet and make his own decisions rather than rely on some crooked manager. He needs to be on his own. At the very least, he needs to hire someone who is honest.”

Bodell is planning further legal action on behalf of his clients, telling TheWrap, “We believe the evidence on which the jury relied was incorrect, unsupported and will be changed by further proceedings. We’re disappointed in the jury behavior and decision and will challenge the outcome before the trial court.”

Maybe now can do a new power trio with Larry Graham included.

madhattter said:

Its now time for him to produce new music with meaningfull lyrics and hooks that lay within his genius.

with the original Family Stone

HuMpThAnG said:

madhattter said:

Its now time for him to produce new music with meaningfull lyrics and hooks that lay within his genius.

I hope he's still able to do so.

I'm so glad he's getting what is HIS. But I hope he lives reasonably and takes care of himself. Music is nothing but expensive, especially the way Sly knows how to make music and nothing will burn through his money quicker than doing an album ....promotion and tour.

He's a target with all that money now, and I hope he has someone he can trust around him....

wonder how much he's left with once the vultures... errrmmm... i mean lawyers take their cut

i'm glad sly got paid... hope this money doesn't mess him up due to his addiction

..im next

bobzilla77 said:

The same Jerry Goldstein is currently screwing most of the surviving members of WAR. I can only hope this emboldens them to press against him and prevail. He's a real piece of work.

Hooray for Sly, and I DO hope he manages to find his way again.

I was just about to bring that up. It's time for karma to kick Goldstein's butt.

I hope WAR wins their suit.

I wish Sly health and happiness. I'm not sure if he can or even wants to work anymore, which is okay....now he won't have to worry about it.

Great fucking news ! Sly deserves to be that rich. 5 million dollars is pretty weak, he is still fucked by this deal, but let's face it, I understand he prefers getting away with something to enjoy the last years of his life. He could beg for more, but it will surely take five more years. Too risky. Fuck Goldstein

these goons owe more then five million to sly. is this a joke? where is the rest of the money?

RODSERLING said:

Great fucking news ! Sly deserves to be that rich. 5 million dollars is pretty weak, he is still fucked by this deal, but let's face it, I understand he prefers getting away with something to enjoy the last years of his life. He could beg for more, but it will surely take five more years. Too risky. Fuck Goldstein

This puzzles me too. The dollar amount seems pretty low.... I mean, I guess that's all there was to rip off? It's almost not worth the both ripping that amount off. What a bunch of bottom feeders.

Sly actually did a song with some guy named Sal Filipelli a few months ago.

https://www.youtube.com/w...viQfJWfDQs (this is only a clip)

Good song but it sounds like his voice is gone.

[Edited 1/31/15 15:03pm]

treehouse said:

RODSERLING said:

Great fucking news ! Sly deserves to be that rich. 5 million dollars is pretty weak, he is still fucked by this deal, but let's face it, I understand he prefers getting away with something to enjoy the last years of his life. He could beg for more, but it will surely take five more years. Too risky. Fuck Goldstein

This puzzles me too. The dollar amount seems pretty low.... I mean, I guess that's all there was to rip off? It's almost not worth the both ripping that amount off. What a bunch of bottom feeders.

The thing is Sly never fulfilled his contractual obligations, among them tours and an album that he was never able to make.

And the real question is : when will Sly get the 5 millions ? IF Goldstein has not this money anymore?

I hope we will get more Sly unreleased songs from the 80's and 90's, he is supposed to own a vault...We only got 3 songs from this era in over 30 years in a WTF cleopatra release...

This is brilliant news! Hopefully things are on the up for him.

Sly won't get the money for quite a while, maybe years because the losers plan to appeal. He could still die before he sees a penny.

It sucks, but it's true. Has hasn't been paid and there's a chance he never will. Hopefully upon appeal the decision stands cuz Sly definitely deserves his money.

I just finished reading the George Clinton biography. Sly is all over that book and not once without crack.

steakfinger said:

Sly won't get the money for quite a while, maybe years because the losers plan to appeal. He could still die before he sees a penny.

It sucks, but it's true. Has hasn't been paid and there's a chance he never will. Hopefully upon appeal the decision stands cuz Sly definitely deserves his money.

I just finished reading the George Clinton biography. Sly is all over that book and not once without crack.

So, is Clinton's biography worth reading then? Also, is George worth going to see now that he's cleaned his act up?