Sly Stone left behind a musical legacy as a singer, funk band leader, and songwriter. But the legendary rocker, who led the group "Sly and the Family Stone," was dealing with a lot of serious health issues at the time of his death at age 82.

Sly Stone, one of the most influential and groundbreaking musicians of the late Sixties and early Seventies who smashed the boundaries of rock, pop, funk, and soul, died on Monday. He was 82. The cause of death was a “prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues,” according to a statement by his family.

One of the true pioneers of funk and soul music has sadly died. Sly Stone, frontman of the iconic band Sly and the Family Stone, has died at the age of 82, USA TODAY reported.