Sly Stone, born Sylvester Stewart in 1943, was the driving force behind Sly & the Family Stone, the revolutionary psych-funk-rock band formed in 1966. His career, full of dazzling highs and tragic lows, is the subject of a new documentary by Questlove, called Sly Lives! (also known as The Burden of Black Genius). The film gives us a portrait of Sly and the artists that his meteoric rise and fall has influenced. The documentary, while focusing on his music, goes way beyond that and explores the complexities of fame, race, personal demons, and the weight of being called a genius. 

You can watch the documentary now on Hulu and Disney+, but the focus of this article is to highlight five different iconic concert posters that define their meteoric rise and the impact they had across many genres, even into the present day.

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This iconic poster has always grabbed my attention, because of the focus of it being a photograph and not psychedelic like a lot of other posters from 1970. Something about it feels pastoral and Americana in the Norman Rockwell tradition, which is a unique juxtaposition for Sly & the Family Stone, yet fitting considering their ability to weave so many disparate styles into their iconic sound.

The show took place December 11th and 12th, 1970 at San Francisco's Winterland. The venue, which eventually was taken over by Bill Graham, eventually closed in in 1979 on New Year's Day, but not before hosting The Sex Pistols' final show in 1978 and was the locale for The Band's iconic Martin Scorsese directed documentary, The Last Waltz. So to have a piece by Sly & the Family Stone at the iconic venue is an added bonus. This piece doesn't pop up in auction on a regular basis, and frequently sells for around $250 or more, depending on condition.

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Speaking of Bill Graham, this eyeful of a poster was designed by the legendary Lee Conklin. It truly is a sight to behold and one that needs to be experienced up close and personal to fully grasp the detail. The Fillmore hosted The Chamber Brothers and Quicksilver Messenger Service on June 18, 1968. Support acts included Beautiful Day, Arthur Brown and of course, Sly and the Family Stone. Now classic songs "Dance to the Music" and "Higher" had been released in April of that year, so Sly and band were firing on all cylinders.

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Another relic from 1968, this one from December 26th of that year. The headliner here is Steve Miller Band, pre-"Joker" and "Fly Like an Eagle" fame. Wes Wilson, the artists known for his work with Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and The Byrds, worked closely for a time with Bill Graham on his Fillmore series. Eventually Wilson and Graham's working relationship ended due to a dispute over royalties, leading Wilson to call Graham a "lying crook". Author Eric King says that Wilson's posters are among the most collectible from the psychedelic era. This poster usually sells for less than $200, so it's an attainable one to add to any collection.

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Another Lee Conklin masterpiece of the Bill Graham series. This stunning and honestly weird-looking poster featured Big Brother & the Holding Company in July of 1968, a few short months before Janis Joplin would strike out on her own, fresh off the release of their sophomore album, Cheap Thrills.

And not only that, Jeff Beck Group, still with then vocalist pre- Faces Rod Stewart and bassist Ronnie Wood, later of Rolling Stones fame. Let's also mention pre-Woodstock Richie Havens and underrated blues band Siegel-Schwall. Of course cap this off all with a lightning hot Sly and the Family Stone. This relic has sold for as much as $2,750 on a 9.8 CGC graded copy, but ungraded copies are not much more than $300 depending on the condition.

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Saying Sly and the Family Stone had a packed year for 1968, in the Bay area, would be an understatement. This concert however took place in Southern California in Los Angeles at Shrine Auditorium. Top of the poster is Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and at the bottom of the poster is The Velvet Underground, featuring a young Lou Reed. Artist Neon Park was later known for his work with Frank Zappa, David Bowie, The Beach Boys and his commercial work for Playboy, National Lampoon and more. The triple bill is mindblowing and the art reflects the absurdity of this stacked event.

This collection of posters is only the tip of the iceberg for Sly and the Family Stone fans, at the early stage of their career. Let us know about your favorite pieces showcasing the legendary band.

Sly lives indeed!!