Freddie Stone

Freddie Stone (born Frederick Jerome Stewart, June 5, 1947, Vallejo, California) is an African-American pastor and musician, best known for his role as co-founder, guitarist, and vocalist in the band Sly and the Family Stone, the frontman for which was his brother Sly Stone. His sisters Rosie Stone and Vet Stone were also members of the band.

After leaving the band in the mid-1970s, Freddie Stone signed a short recording contract with Motown Records.

Personal life

His childhood years were spent in Vallejo, California. His parents were Christians and they attended the Pentecostal church. They also were musicians with his father playing violin, harp and guitar and his mother playing guitar as well as piano. His early years were spent at church and without racial inhibition. His mother would babysit the children in the neighborhood who happened to be of all colors. He started playing music when he was twelve.

As a result of fighting at the Vallejo School, he was expelled and thus had to attend Benicia High School. He did quite well there and in his junior year he was MVP on his basketball team. In his senior year he was president of the student body. Not long after he graduated, the Stewart family along with Freddie moved to San Francisco.

Family

Stewart has six children, Casey, Stacey, Freddie Jr., Simon, Joy and Kristi.

Ministry

According to a 2009 KCRW interview with Sly Stone, Freddie has been, since 1994, Pastor Frederick Stewart, a preacher, in his native Vallejo. He became a committed Christian in 1980 and in 1988 he was ordained as an evangelist preacher. Over a period of time he was being prepared to take over his uncle's church the Evangelist Temple Fellowship Center COGIC, for which he is currently pastor. The church is located on Sonoma Boulevard in Vallejo, California.

Releases

• Everywhere You Are - Geronimo Inc / Orchard - (2001)
• Right Now - (2012) (Updated version of Everywhere You Are)