“What you see is what you get. What you hear is who I am”.
Angie Stone
Introduction
The news that Angie Stone passed away at the age of 63 in a tragic car accident will leave a legion of music fans mourning her loss. Angie battled many things in her life, including type 2 diabetes and a blood infection caused by a non-sterile needle in 2024. Yet, for every crisis in her life, she used her faith in God and the teachings of the Bible to help her turn the next corner. In a music career that spanned over fourty years, the artist, who was dubbed Angie B, had a voice that resonated and was genuinely soulful. An only child, Angie was a singer who created poetic lyrics describing love’s essence. The singer, who started her career in the late 1970s as part of the hip-hop trio the Sequence, was one of the first to be signed to Sugar Hill Records and performed with the group from 1979 until 1985. A group that recorded three albums with hits like Funk You Up. A music rift that Bruno Mars and Dr. Dre later used. Angie was only sixteen when she joined the band alongside school friends Cheryl Cook and Gwendolyn Chisolm.
The Vibe
Born December 18, 1961. In Columbia, South Carolina, Angie was highly influenced by singing gospel in her local church while growing up, and this is reflected in her music. After the group’s disbanding, it wasn’t until the mid-1980s that Stone went solo with the release of her first album, Black Diamond, the first of ten albums. The last was Love Language in 2023. Married to Rodney Stone and soul singer D’Angelo, she had two children, Diamond and Michael. She also had two grandchildren from her daughter Diamond. Real name Angela Brown, Angie was working right up until her tragic death with several projects in the pipeline. Nominated for three Grammy awards and someone who has won two Soul Train Lady of Soul awards. A lady who also ventured into acting, appearing in The Hot Chick and as Big Mama Morton in the Broadway musical Chicago.
With the 2002 worldwide smash hit Wish I Didn’t Miss You, a firm favourite in her back catalogue, Angie will always be remembered and never forgotten. She will remain alive in her music. Her voice is electrifying and mesmeric. Soul ran through Angie’s veins, and her influence can be seen in the work of so many artists. Her sudden death was felt by so many, especially by those who worked with her and those in the music industry. The only crumb of consolation is she is now at peace with her maker and probably singing those songs that made her a true soul diva. Rest in peace Angie, you will be greatly missed!
