Neo-Soul Pioneer Angie Stone Dies at 63 After Alabama Car Crash

Angie Stone, singer and songwriter whose voice helped shape the neo-soul movement, has died at sixty-three following a car crash in Alabama.

Stone died in a hospital on March 1 after being involved in the crash shortly after performing in Alabama. Her representative confirmed the news, her career spanning hip-hop, R&B, songwriting, and acting.

Born Angela Laverne Stone in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1961, she was introduced to music at home. Her father belonged to a gospel quartet that rehearsed there, giving her an early musical foundation.

While attending school, she sang in choir and wrote poetry. Those interests eventually became songs.

As a teenager, Stone joined childhood friends Gwendolyn Chisolm and Cheryl Cook to form the Sequence. The group signed with Sugar Hill Records after auditioning for Sylvia Robinson and the Sugarhill Gang.

Their 1979 song “Funk You Up” became a landmark release. The Sequence became the first all-female hip-hop group with a charting single, and the track was later sampled by Dr. Dre and En Vogue.

After three albums, the group experienced contractual problems with Sugar Hill Records. Stone left the group in 1984 and spent years as a backup performer, including touring with Lenny Kravitz as a saxophonist.

In 1990, Stone signed with MCA Universal as a songwriter and later formed the R&B trio Vertical Hold with Willie Bruno and David Bright. The group released two albums before disbanding.

Stone's career entered another important chapter during the late 1990s. Early demos reached an A&R executive at Arista Records, leading to her solo recording deal.

Her 1999 album Black Diamond became a gold-selling success. “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and “Everyday” helped establish the neo-soul sound of the era.

Stone went on to release ten studio albums and received three Grammy nominations. She wrote songs for D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Raphael Saadiq.

In 2000, she contributed the theme song for the sitcom Girlfriends and appeared in a cameo. She later acted in films including The Fighting Temptations and The Hot Chick.

Stone's final studio album was 2023's Love Language. Her career connected generations of Black music.

Her influence reached beyond her own recordings. Through songwriting, collaborations, performances, and appearances, she remained connected to artists and audiences across different eras. Her music carried the emotional richness associated with neo-soul while reflecting the broader history of Black popular music that shaped her creative identity and lasting place in the industry and world.

Her career reflected reinvention, persistence, and a distinctive voice.

From her teenage years with the Sequence to her solo career, Angie Stone left behind work that remains part of neo-soul and R&B history.

Angie Stone