Sly Stone, the US funk musician, has died aged 82.

The driving force behind the band Sly and the Family Stone died after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health issues, his family said.

“While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come,” the statement said.

Stone’s group was a regular on the US music charts in the late 1960s and 1970s, with hits such as Dance to the Music, I Want to Take You Higher, Family Affair, Everyday People, If You Want Me to Stay, and Hot Fun in the Summertime.

Stone played a leading role in introducing funk, an Afrocentric style of music driven by grooves and syncopated rhythms, to a broader audience.

He was perhaps best known f

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