WEBDESK: Grammy-nominated R&B artist Angie Stone died in a car crash on early Saturday aged 63.
According to Walter Milsap III, her longtime manager, Stone was returning to Atlanta from Alabama when the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicle she was in flipped over and was hit by a Freightliner Cascadia truck. The accident took place at 4:25 a.m. on Interstate 65, south of Montgomery. The medical examiner declared Stone dead at the site although hospital staff treated both the van driver and the seven passengers. The Alabama Highway Patrol is currently working to determine the reasons behind this accident.
Stone founded The Sequence which became the first all-female rap group before moving on to become one of the standout figures in neo-soul who shaped artists Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and D’Angelo. Her albums Mahogany Soul and The Art of Love & War (Stax Records) reached the peak position on R&B charts.
Musical artists and non-industry figures across the board honored Stone through their tributes.
The news of her passing left community leader Bernice King very troubled and sad. Her children, Diamond and Michael Archer, expressed their grief: “We are completely heartbroken.”
Rapper Tyler, The Creator expressed condolences to Angie Stone through his message “safe travels angie stone.”
CNN analyst Bakari Sellers proclaimed her status as “a true icon.” Music industry pioneer DJ Short paid tribute to her impact, writing, “RIP Angie Stone. Founding member of early Sugarhill Records Hip-Hop group The Sequence, later a pioneer in the Neo-Soul movement in the late 90s and early 00s. An essential part of Hip-Hop and R&B history.”
Stone moved between acting and singing by appearing in The Hot Chick and The Fighting Temptations. Stone had planned to play in the CIAA Championship halftime event during the time she died.
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