Grammy-Nominated R&B Singer Angie Stone Killed in Car Crash
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Angie Stone performing live at Indigo at the O2 in London, UK, October 2019
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Angie Stone, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer known for hits like “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and a member of the pioneering all-female hip-hop trio The Sequence, died early Saturday in a car crash. She was 63.
Stone was traveling back to Atlanta from Alabama when the vehicle she was riding in overturned and was subsequently struck by a tractor-trailer, according to her longtime manager, Walter Millsap III. The accident occurred around 4:25 a.m. on Interstate 65, about 5 miles south of Montgomery's city limits. Stone was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and seven others in the van were taken to Baptist Medical Center for treatment. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
In a statement shared by the SRG Group, Stone's children, Diamond and Michael Archer, expressed their shock and heartbreak: “Never in a million years did we ever expect to get this horrible news.” Millsap also conveyed his devastation, saying, “There are simply no words to express how we feel.”
Stone was scheduled to perform at the halftime show of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) men’s basketball championship on Saturday. Following the news of her death, CIAA Chaplain Pastor Jerome Barber led a moment of silence in her memory.
Angie Stone's influence on R&B and hip-hop spanned decades. As part of The Sequence, she helped pave the way for women in hip-hop with tracks like “Funk You Up,” which has been sampled by numerous artists, including Dr. Dre. Her solo career blossomed in the early 2000s, with hits such as “No More Rain (In This Cloud),” “Baby,” and “Brotha.” Her 2001 album “Mahogany Soul” and 2007's “The Art of Love & War” showcased her signature neo-soul sound, resonating with fans worldwide.
Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Stone's musical journey began in the church, influenced by her parents' love for gospel and blues. Over the years, she also made her mark as an actress, with roles in films like “The Hot Chick,” “The Fighting Temptations,” and “Ride Along,” as well as on Broadway in “Chicago.”
Stone's contributions to music earned her accolades, including a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award. Reflecting on her career in a 2007 interview, Stone said, “I feel complete... I’ve been in the business since 1979... Now I can finally say I feel I’ve arrived and mean it.”
Her legacy as a trailblazer and soulful voice in R&B and hip-hop will be remembered by fans and fellow artists alike.