Vet Stone

Vet Stone (born Vaetta Stewart; May 2, 1950, Vallejo, California) is an American soul singer. She is the sister of Sly Stone, Rose Stone, and Freddie Stone. She was also a member of Sly & the Family Stone and Little Sister.

Vet Stone
Birth nameVaetta Stewart
Also known asVet Stewart
Born (1950-05-02) May 2, 1950
Vallejo, California U.S.
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboard
Years active1960s to present
Formerly ofThe Heavenly Tones, Sly & the Family Stone, Little Sister
Vet Stone

Background

Vaetta Stewart was born to parents K.C. and Alpha Stewart.[1]

According to the book, Woodstock FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Fabled Garden by Thomas E. Harkins, she was born in Denton Texas. She was the youngest of the Stewart Children, Loretta, Sylvester, Frederick and Rosemary, and herself being Vaetta. But as the book reads, the family moved to San Francisco in the 1940s.[2] As she was born in 1950, her birthplace would be in California.[3]

At the age of seventeen she suffered a serious illness which could have stopped her musical direction, but she quickly recovered.[4]

She was the lead singer in the funk group Little Sister, which had a #8 R&B hit of its own in 1970 entitled "You're the One".[5] She was also part of Sly & the Family Stone.[6]

Career

1960s to 1980s

In 1966, the group she was a member of, The Heavenly Tones recorded an album, I Love the Lord which was released on Gospel MG 3050. The group's lineup also included Tramaine Hawkins.[7][8] Sly Stone got the group to tour with him but Hawkins declined as she wanted to finish school.[9] The group then became Little Sister, which was made up of Vaetta Stewart (herself), Mary McCreary, and Elva Mouton.[10][11][12]

In 1970, Sly & the Family Stone were in England and played at the Isle of Wight Festival. Vet went on tour with the band as sister Rose didn't participate in the tour.[13]

Vet played keyboards and contributed backing vocals to the Small Talk album that was released in 1974. At that time the band was made up of Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Rose Stone Banks, herself, Rusty Allen, Jerry Martini, Pat Rizzo, Cynthia Robinson, Bill Lordan and Sid Page.[14]

Along with Dawn Silva and Tiny Melton, she contributed backing vocals to Sly Stone's solo album, High on You.[15]

Both Vaetta (Vet) and Tiny Moulton contributed backing vocals to the 1977 album, Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back by Sly & the Family Stone.[16]

1990s to 2000s

As of 2005, she was a member of the band, Phunk Phamily Affair.[17]

In 2007, Vet and the group Phunk Family Affair which she fronted performed at the Lovebox in London. Sly Stone appeared with them after about half an hour to perform some of his songs.[18] She was then the lead figure in a band called Family Stone (formerly Phunk Phamily Affair).[19] The band includes Rose Stone and her daughter Lisa Stone among its members.[20] Also in January that year, following Vet's efforts in persuasion, Sly performed for the first time in twenty years. The venue was the House of Blues in Anaheim, California.[21]

In 2014, recordings she did with Little Sister were released on the I’m Just Like You: Sly’s Stone Flower 1969-1970 album, released on Light in the Attic Records.[22]

In 2015, her book Blood is Thicker than the Mud was released. According to Blues Blast magazine, it chronicles her efforts to lead her brother, Sly Stone, back to performing live.[23]

In 2019, she was interviewed by Ace Alan and Jay Stone for the Aced Out podcast, talking about her time with The Heavenly Tones, Sly & the Family Stone and her book.[24]

References
  1. Blues Blast, March 4, 2015 - Blood Is Thicker Than The Mud | Book Review by mark Thompson
  2. Woodstock FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Fabled Garden by Thomas E. Harkins - Page 171 The Seeds Were Sewn: Everyday People
  3. Listen to Classic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre By Melissa Ursula Dawn Goldsmith - 218 Listen to Classic Rock!
  4. Solutions Now Radio, Published 2011-08-09 (Internet archive) - Sly's LiL Sis, Welcome Vet Stone of Sly & The Family Stone
  5. mentalitch - Little Sister – “You’re The One”, Introduction to Little Sister
  6. St. Augustine Record, June 13, 2012 - The Family Stone that plays together stays together - NICK MCGREGOR
  7. Discogs - The Heavenly Tones – I Love The Lord
  8. Gospel Music Hall of Fame - 2019 Inductees, Tramaine Hawkins
  9. Musician Guide - Tramaine Hawkins Biography
  10. Session Days - 1994 Tramaine Hawkins – To A Higher Place
  11. Maestro - Mary McCreary, About Mary McCreary
  12. Blogtalk Radio, 18 Apr 2012 - The Legendary Veta Stone of Sly & The Family Stone
  13. Sly And The Family Stone – Higher! - Epic / Legacy 88697536652 Page 52 Isle of Wight Festival (UK) August 30, 1970]
  14. Jazz Music Archives - SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE — SMALL TALK
  15. Jazz Music Archives - SLY STONE — HIGH ON YOU
  16. Jazz Music Archives - SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE — HEARD YOU MISSED ME, WELL I'M BACK
  17. Vanity Fair, July 3, 2007 - FLASHBACK, Sly Stone's Higher Power BY DAVID KAMP B
  18. Uncut, 22nd July 2007 - Sly And The Family Stone at Lovebox, London By John Mulvey
  19. Los Angeles Times, January 9, 2007 - Stone is at work but he keeps it on the sly by Jeff Kaliss
  20. The Los Angeles Times, Jan 9, 2007 - MUSIC, Stone is at work but he keeps it on the sly BY Jeff Kaliss
  21. Sly And The Family Stone – Higher! - Epic / Legacy 88697536652 Page 83 - January 13, 2007
  22. Black Grooves, November 3, 2014 - Sly Stone – I’m Just Like You: Sly’s Stone Flower 1969-1970
  23. Blues Blast, March 4, 2015 - Blood Is Thicker Than The Mud | Book Review by mark Thompson
  24. Aced Out, January 16, 2019 - Episode 3: Vet Stone
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