On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone is a documentary about Sly Stone, his absence from the music scene, and one man's quest to find out what happened to the artist. It is directed by Michael Rubenstone.
Background The film is about a quest to find the reclusive Sly.Okayplayer.com - New Sly Stone Documentary Premiering In January 2017 By Elijah C. Watson According to a 2005 Rolling Stone article by Andrew Paine Bradbury, Michael Rubenstone, Greg Zola, and indie One-Four Productions were in their second year of their project.Rolling Stone - Sly Stone Joins Family By Andrew Paine Bradbury In a Washington Post article, in reference to Stone's absence, one of the filmmakers compared him to J. D. Salinger.The Washington Post, January 27, 2006 - Sly Stone's Surprise By J. Freedom du Lac Through a period of about 12 years, band members, people in the music industry and other musicians were interviewed.Park Record, January 24, 2017 - Rubenstone’s Sly Stone documentary was 12-year labor of love, Filmmaker happy for Slamdance premiere One of the people to appear in the film is Cornel West. He talks about Stone's biggest hit songs and the effect they had on him.Shadow and Act, November 30, 2016 - New Feature Documentary Goes “In Search” of Elusive Funk Music Legend, Sly Stone - Sergio Mims
After 13 years and going through 500 hours of footage the film was completed.The Salt Lake Tribune, Jan 14 2017 - ‘On the Sly’ at Slamdance, one man’s search for a rock icon By Rich Kane It appears that the final product as well as the majority of the work, and final completion is due to the efforts by Michael Rubenstone with a new production company, Unreal films.SLUG Magazine, January 22, 2017 - Slamdance Film Review: On The Sly: In Search of the Family Stone By Ali ShimkusRolling Stone - Sly Stone Joins Family By Andrew Paine BradburyImdb - On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone (2017), Company Credits
Greg Zola who in the early period of the film's creation was Michael Rubenstone's partner,Rolling Stone, August 18, 2005 - Sly Stone Joins Family Funk legend makes first appearance in twelve years to support his sister By Andrew Paine Bradbury ended up completing his own documentary about Sly Stone, Small Talk About Sly.The Guardian, Mon 20 Mar 2006 - Looking at the devil - Barney HoskynsBach Perspectives, Volume 13 Bach Reworked, By Ellen Exner · 2020 - - 5.The Hollywood Reporter, January 23, 2025 - MOVIE REVIEWS, ‘Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)’ Review: Questlove’s Admiring Portrait Gives Sly Stone His Flowers By Lovia Gyarkye
Premiere The film premiered at the 2017 Slamdance Film Festival.Indie Film Hustle, January 30, 2017 - IFH 134: Chasing Sly and the Family Stone Documentary for 12 years with Michael Rubenstone By Alex FerrariAcast, Jan 30th 2017 - IFH 134: Chasing Sly and the Family Stone Documentary for 12 years with Michael Rubenstone - Indie Film Hustle Podcast:
Cast
Rusty Allen Frank Arellano Hamp 'Bubba' Banks Dick Cavett Clive Davis Gordon DeWitty Greg Errico David Froelich George Johnson Jeff Kaliss David Kapralik Michaell Lang Jerry Martini Alec Palao
Stephen Paley Pat Rizzo Cynthia Robinson Rich Romanello Michael Rubenstone Joel Selvin Paul Shaffer Vet Stone Quincy Troupe John Turk Michael Wadleigh Cornel West Bobby Womack
References
External links ON THE SLY: Website