Grammy-nominated R&B and hip-hop singer Angie Stone has died at the age of 63 following a fatal car crash involving an 18-wheeler on March 1. A representative for the singer confirmed the tragic news, reported People.
Stone’s daughter, Ladi Diamond, shared an emotional post on Facebook, writing, “My mommy is gone,” mourning the loss of the beloved artist.
Born Angela Laverne Brown on December 18, 1961, in Columbia, South Carolina, Stone’s musical journey began in the late 1970s as a co-founder of the pioneering hip-hop trio The Sequence. Alongside Cheryl “Cheryl the Pearl” Cook and Gwendolyn “Blondy” Chisolm, the group made history with their 1979 hit Funk You Up, one of the earliest rap songs by a female group.
Transitioning into R&B in the 1990s, Stone initially performed with the group Vertical Hold before launching a successful solo career. Her debut solo album, Black Diamond (1999), featured the hit No More Rain (In This Cloud), followed by her acclaimed 2001 album Mahogany Soul, which included the classic track Wish I Didn’t Miss You.
Beyond her own music, Stone was an accomplished songwriter, collaborating with industry icons such as D’Angelo, Alicia Keys, and Lenny Kravitz. She also made a mark in television and film, appearing in VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club, R&B Divas: Atlanta, and movies like The Hot Chick and The Fighting Temptations. She even took to Broadway in 2003 with a role in Chicago.
Throughout her career, Stone released 10 solo albums and earned three Grammy nominations, including Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2003 and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2004. In 2023, she was honored with an induction into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Stone is survived by her daughter Ladi, her son Michael—whom she shared with singer D’Angelo—and two grandchildren. Fans and fellow artists are mourning the loss of a legendary voice in R&B and hip-hop.\
Sources By Agencies
