The music and entertainment industry is saddened and shocked over the tragic death of neo-soul singer Angie Stone. The soulful voice behind timeless hits like “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” Ms. Stone was killed early March 1 in a car crash. She was 63.
She had done a show in Montgomery, Alabama, and was headed to Atlanta when the vehicle she was riding in “flipped over and was subsequently hit by a big rig,” music producer and Ms. Stone’s longtime manager Walter Millsap III told the Associated Press in an email. Everyone else in the cargo van survived, he said.
The Alabama Highway Patrol said in a news release that the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van turned over on Interstate 65 about 4:25 a.m. Saturday before being hit by a 2021 Freightliner Cascadia truck driven by a 33-year-old Texas man. Ms. Stone was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ms. Stone was scheduled to perform at the halftime show of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Men’s Championship basketball game on Saturday. CIAA Chaplain Pastor Jerome Barber called for a moment of silence at the game.
Born Angela Laverne Brown on December 18, 1961, in Columbia, South Carolina, Ms. Stone’s passion for music began at a young age. Music had been a part of her life since she was a child, with her mother singing around the house and her father singing gospel and blues at spots around town, Ms. Stone told the AP in a 1999 interview. “I’m an only child, so my dad and my mom are my life, and when I was a kid I’d look up to my dad,” she said. “He was very influential in what I wanted to do.”
Years later, after being hospitalized for congestive heart failure, she changed her life, dropped more than 40 pounds and started eating better, she told the AP. At the time, she said she was just happy to be alive and making music.
Ms. Stone made her mark in the late 1990s with the release of her debut album “Black Diamond.” As an artist, Ms. Stone was celebrated for her unique blend of R&B, soul, jazz and gospel influences, creating music that was both deeply personal and universally relatable. Her distinctive sound not only resonated with listeners but also helped shape the genre of neo-soul, alongside artists like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo and Maxwell.
Over the years, Ms. Stone released a series of acclaimed albums, including “Mahogany Soul,” “Stone Love” and “The Art of Love & War,” each reflecting her growth as an artist and her unwavering commitment to storytelling. Her music explored themes of love, self-empowerment and personal resilience, establishing her as not just a singer but an icon of the genre.
Beyond her solo career, Angie Stone’s influence extended to her work as a songwriter and producer, collaborating with a range of artists across genres, including Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill. She was also an advocate for mental healthcare and women’s rights, using her platform to address important societal issues through both her music and public appearance.
The loss of Ms. Stone is profound, felt not only by her family and friends but by her millions of fans worldwide. Her longtime friend, Jawn Murray, TV host and executive producer of “Sherri,” said, “Angie Stone was one of one. Not only did she have a distinctively soulful voice that helped shape what was called the neo-soul movement of the early 2000s, but she never got enough credit for being in the first hip-hop group, the Sequence. Amazingly talented, incredibly loyal, genuinely loving and an unapologetic woman of God. I’m going to miss my friend, but I’m grateful she knew I loved her.”
Ms. Stone is survived by her daughter, Diamond, from her marriage to Rodney Stone (also known as Lil’ Rodney C! of the hip-hop group “Funky Four Plus One”). Diamond contributed background vocals to her mother’s 2007 song “Baby.” Diamond has two children, making Ms. Stone a grandmother. Her son, Michael D’Angelo Archer II, was born in 1998 during her relationship with neo-soul singer D’Angelo. Michael, also known by his stage name “Swayvo Twain,” has pursued a career in music.
While the world has lost a brilliant artist, her voice remains timeles, and her contributions to the music industry will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Angie Stone. Your soul will live on forever in the music you left behind.
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