Legendary Neo-Soul Artist Angie Stone Dies at 63 in Car Accident

Angie Stone, the Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and member of the iconic hip-hop trio The Sequence, died early Saturday morning in a car crash in Montgomery, Alabama. She was 63 years old.

According to her representative Deborah R. Champagne, Stone was leaving a performance when the accident occurred. Local news outlet WSFA reported that the crash happened around 7 a.m. local time and involved “a commercial vehicle,” with social media users suggesting an 18-wheeler was involved, though authorities have not yet confirmed these details.

Stone’s daughter, performer Ladi Diamond, confirmed her mother’s passing on Facebook with the heartbreaking message, “My mommy is gone.”

Musical Legacy

Angie Stone’s musical journey began in Columbia, South Carolina, where she sang gospel music from a young age at First Nazareth Baptist Church. Her professional career launched in the late 1970s when she formed the groundbreaking hip-hop trio The Sequence alongside Gwendolyn Chisholm and Cheryl Cook. The group made history as the first all-female group signed to Sugar Hill Records.

The Sequence released their hit “Funk You Up” in 1979, which became the second release on Sugar Hill Records and the first rap single by an all-female group. The trio released three albums between 1979 and 1985.

After her time with The Sequence, Stone worked with futuristic rap group Mantronix and rocker Lenny Kravitz before forming the R&B trio Vertical Hold in the early 1990s. The group achieved success with their Top 40 R&B hit “Seems You’re Much Too Busy” in 1993.

Solo Career and Discography

Stone established herself as one of neo-soul’s leading artists with her solo debut in 1999. Her discography includes ten studio albums:

• Black Diamond (1999) – Her gold-certified debut featuring the hit “No More Rain (In This Cloud)”
  
• Mahogany Soul (2001) – Another gold-certified album that further solidified her status
  
• Stone Love (2004)
  
• The Art of Love & War (2007) – Her first album to top the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
  
• Unexpected (2009)
  
• Rich Girl (2012)
  
• Dream (2015)
  
• Covered in Soul (2016)
  
• Full Circle (2019)
  
• Love Language (2023)
  

Her breakthrough came with “Black Diamond,” which featured the hit singles “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and “Everyday.” Two years later, she released “Mahogany Soul,” which included the timeless track “Wish I Didn’t Miss You.”

Awards and Recognition

Throughout her career, Stone received numerous accolades and nominations, cementing her status as a soul music icon:

• Three Grammy nominations: “More Than a Woman” (2002), “U-Haul” (2004), and “Baby” (2007)
  
• Two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, including Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year for “Mahogany Soul”
  
• Winner of the GMA Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year (2005) for her contribution to “The Passion of the Christ: Songs”
  
• Nominee for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist at the Soul Train Awards (2000)
  
• Recipient of the 2021 Soul Music Icon Award from the Black Music Honors
  

Beyond Music

Beyond her musical achievements, Stone ventured into acting, appearing in films such as “The Hot Chick,” “Ride Along,” “The Fighting Temptations,” and “Pastor Brown.” She also participated in reality television, including VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club” in 2006, TV One’s “R&B Divas” (2013-2014), and ABC’s “Celebrity Wife Swap” (2014).

Stone was known for her collaborations with other artists, having worked with Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, Alicia Keys, and Lenny Kravitz. She co-wrote and co-produced D’Angelo’s critically acclaimed debut album “Brown Sugar” in 1995 and his follow-up “Voodoo” in 2000.

Angie Stone is survived by her son Michael, daughter Diamond, and two grandchildren. Her passing marks the end of a remarkable career that spanned over four decades and left an indelible mark on R&B, hip-hop, and neo-soul music.