R&B and Soul singer, Angie Stone, has passed away. She was 63. The news was first confirmed by her representative, Deborah R. Champagne, and later confirmed by her sister. Stone succumbed due to injuries from a car accident after performing at the Grand Marshal’s Ball in Mobile, Alabama on Friday night.
Stone rose to prominence in the 1980s with the South Carolina trio, The Sequence. The band was known for hits such as “Funk You Up” and “Love Changes.” Additionally, The Sequence would become the first all-Female group to be signed to Sugar Hill Records, setting the stage for Southern Hip-Hop to flourish in the future.
In the late 1990s, Stone embarked on a solo career, establishing herself as solo artist. Stone released her debut album, Black Diamond, in 1999. The album debuted at no. 9 on Billboard‘s Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart. “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” reached number one on Billboard‘s US Adult R&B chart as well as ninth on Billboard‘s US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
“Wish I Didn’t Miss You” became an anthem upon its release in 2001. Stone’s brand of R&B was sultry, mature and empowering.
In 2001, Stone released Mahogany Soul. debuted and peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard 200 selling 71,000 copies in its first week of release. Mahogany Soul also entered the top five of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, reaching number four.
Stone was nominated for three GRAMMYs. Stone also collaborated with D’Angelo, Prince, Macy Gray, Lenny Kravitz, Ray Charles, Kool & The Gang, and Dionne Warwick. As the tributes pour in, Queen Latifah offered her condolences.
“Losing Angie Stone is such a loss for R&B,” Latifah said on social media. “She covered ‘Holding Back The Years’ for the Love and Basketball soundtrack so well, I thought the song was hers. Praying for her family.”
May her memory and legacy be a blessing.
