Popular Female Music Icon Dies In Car Crash

Angie Stone, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer best known for her song ‘Wish I Didn’t Miss You‘, is dead.

The 63-year-old music star, who was a member of the pioneering hip-hop group The Sequence, died in a car crash on Saturday.

Stone was traveling back to Atlanta from Alabama when the van she was riding in overturned on Interstate 65, a major highway in central US.

Walter Millsap III, her long-time manager, was quoted as saying she was struck by a large truck and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Alabama Highway Patrol reported that the crash happened around 4:25 a.m., about five miles south of Montgomery.

Others in the vehicle were said to have survived while some in the crash got hospitalised.

Stone’s children, Diamond and Michael Archer, expressed devastation at their mother’s death.

Millsap called it an “unimaginable tragedy”.

Officials at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), where Stone was set to perform at a basketball game halftime show, honoured her with a moment of silence.

Angie Stone, born Angela Laverne Brown, gained prominence in the late 1970s as part of The Sequence, one of the first female hip-hop groups.

Known for their hit Funk You Up, the group made history with their groundbreaking style. The track was later sampled in Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk and Dr. Dre’s Keep Their Heads Ringin’.

As reported by Rolling Stone, Stone later transitioned to R&B, joining the trio Vertical Hold in the 1990s and achieving fame with the single Seems You’re Much Too Busy.

Stone’s solo career skyrocketed with her debut album Black Diamond in 1999, which earned critical acclaim and commercial success.

The album, featuring hits like No More Rain (In This Cloud), cemented her place in the neo-soul genre, according to Billboard.

Her follow-up albums, including Mahogany Soul (2001), which featured the iconic single Wish I Didn’t Miss You, further established her as a soul music legend.

Beyond her music, Stone also made her mark in acting, appearing in films such as The Hot Chick and The Fighting Temptations.

Stone’s personal life was often in the spotlight.

According to report, she had two children: a daughter, Diamond, from her marriage to Rodney Stone, and a son, Michael, with neo-soul artist D’Angelo. She also had two grandchildren.

The news of her death has shaken the music industry,  as tributes have poured in from fans and artists worldwide, with many praising her influence and dedication to her craft.

Her daughter, Diamond Stone, confirmed her passing in a heartfelt social media post, stating, “My mummy is gone,” as reported by Page Six.

Angie Stone was actively working on new projects and had announced a UK tour, which was set to begin later this year.

In her final Instagram post, she shared her excitement about upcoming shows, according to The Sun.

Stone’s enduring legacy as a pioneering force in music will not be forgotten.

As noted by The Guardian, her soulful voice and trailblazing contributions to the neo-soul movement have left an indelible mark on the industry.