Funk pioneer Sly Stone, a onetime San Francisco DJ turned pop music innovator and leader of Sly and the Family Stone, has died at 82.

Sly Stone was a cosmopolitan reflection of time and place who simultaneously transcended eras.

Stone, who was born Sylvester Stewart, wrote and produced “Everyday People.”

Sometimes there are strange symmetries in death, as in life. The twin passings of Sly Stone and Brian Wilson this week brought that into sharp relief. Both were musical geniuses who paid a high price for their gifts.

Both were musical geniuses who paid a high price for their gifts.

“Pet Sounds” is beautiful — with gorgeous vocal harmonies, haunting timbres and wistful lyrics of adolescent longing and estrangement.