Grammy-nominated soul singer and actress Angie Stone has tragically passed away at the age of 63 following a car accident in Montgomery, Alabama.
The accident occurred early Saturday morning while Stone and her band were traveling from a performance in Mobile, Alabama, to Atlanta. Their van was involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler on Interstate 65, causing the van to flip.
Stone was the only fatality among the nine individuals in the vehicle, which included her crew and backup singers.
Born Angela Laverne Brown, Stone began her music career in the late 1970s as part of The Sequence, one of the first female hip-hop groups. The group gained prominence with their hit “Funk You Up,” a track later sampled in Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” and Dr. Dre’s “Keep Their Heads Ringin’.”
She later transitioned to R&B, joining the trio Vertical Hold in the 1990s and achieving fame with the single “Seems You’re Much Too Busy.”
Stone’s solo career skyrocketed with her debut album Black Diamond in 1999, which featured hits like “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and cemented her place in the neo-soul genre.
Her follow-up album, Mahogany Soul (2001), featured the iconic single “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” further establishing her as a soul music legend.
Beyond her music, Stone also made her mark in acting, appearing in films such as The Hot Chick and Ride Along. She also starred as Big Mama Morton in the Broadway production of Chicago.
Stone had two children: a daughter, Diamond, from her marriage to Rodney Stone, and a son, Michael, with neo-soul artist D’Angelo.
The news of her death has shaken the music industry, with tributes pouring in from fans and artists worldwide.
Her daughter, Diamond Stone, confirmed her passing in a heartfelt social media post, stating, “My mommy is gone.”
Angie Stone was actively working on new projects and had announced a UK tour, which was set to begin later this year. In her final Instagram post, she shared her excitement about upcoming shows.
Stone’s enduring legacy as a pioneering force in music will not be forgotten, as her soulful voice and trailblazing contributions to the neo-soul movement have left an indelible mark on the industry.
