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Renowned singer Angie Stone, best known for her iconic track “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” has tragically passed away at the age of 63.
A spokesperson for Stone confirmed to Variety that she lost her life in a car accident in Montgomery, Alabama. Reports indicate that she was returning home from a performance and was the only casualty of the incident.
Her daughter, Diamond Stone, expressed her grief through a heartfelt message online, stating, “My mommy is gone.”
Stone’s career began at the young age of 16 when she co-founded the pioneering all-female hip-hop group, the Sequence, in the late 1970s. The group gained recognition with their hit “Funk You Up,” which would later be sampled by prominent artists like Dr. Dre in “Keep Their Heads Ringin'” and Bruno Mars in “Uptown Funk.”
In an interview from 2023, she reflected on her group’s significance, saying, “Being the first female rap group to come out with an authentic original rap record is an accomplishment that no one else has been able to top.”
Following the disbandment of the Sequence in the mid-1980s, Stone transitioned to a role as a vocalist, collaborating with Vertical Hold and Devox. She also contributed songwriting to D’Angelo’s early albums and joined him on tour as a backing vocalist, later collaborating with Lenny Kravitz on his 1998 album “5.”
In 1999, Stone released her debut solo album, “Black Diamond,” which featured popular tracks like “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and “Life Story.” She also crafted the theme song for the beloved sitcom “Girlfriends” in 2000 and followed up with her second album, “Mahogany Soul,” which debuted the next year.
The latter album included the track “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” solidifying her presence in the international music scene.
Her third album, “Stone Love,” featured the collaborative hit “I Wanna Thank Ya” alongside Snoop Dogg, which gained substantial popularity in Europe and included a cameo appearance from a young Idris Elba in the video.
Stone continued to release new music, putting out a total of seven additional albums, with her latest, “Love Language,” released in 2023 and featuring contributions from Musiq Soulchild and her son, Swayvo Twain.
Throughout her career, Stone received three Grammy nominations and penned songs for notable artists including Erykah Badu and Raphael Saadiq. Reflecting on her career as a songwriter in a 2011 interview, she voiced the challenges of recognition, stating, “There is a deep sad feeling that as a songwriter – something such a gift – you never get acknowledged for it.” She elaborated on the financial aspects, noting that songwriting provided a greater income than her singing career.
In addition to her music career, Stone made a mark in acting, featuring in comedies such as “The Hot Chick” and “The Fighting Temptations,” as well as performing on stage in “Chicago” as Big Mama Morton.
Source
www.theguardian.com