Grammy-winning singer dies in car accident after performance

Grammy-winning singer and founding member of the groundbreaking hip-hop trio The Sequence, Angie Stone, died in a car accident at the age of 63 following a performance in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday night.

Stone’s representative, Deborah R. Champagne, confirmed the heartbreaking news to TMZ on Saturday, stating that her family is “devastated” by the sudden loss. “A number of her client’s loved ones had spoken to her just last night,” the spokesperson shared.

Local station WSFA in Montgomery, Alabama, reported a collision around 7 a.m. Saturday involving a commercial vehicle, which appears to match the incident. According to Variety, Stone was traveling with her band and backup singers when their Sprinter van overturned. She was the only fatality.

Born Angela Brown, Stone is survived by her son Michael Archer, 27, her daughter Diamond Stone, 47, and two grandchildren. Diamond confirmed her mother’s passing in an emotional Facebook post, writing: “My mommy is gone .”

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Stone made music history as a founding member of The Sequence, one of the first female rap groups, emerging from Columbia, South Carolina. Their 1980 hit “Funk You Up” went on to influence future generations, later sampled in Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” and Dr. Dre’s “Keep Their Heads Ringin’.”

After leaving The Sequence in 1985, Stone embarked on a successful solo career in the late 1990s. Her debut album Black Diamond achieved gold certification, and her 2001 release Mahogany Soul featured hits like “Brotha,” “No More Rain,” and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” — the latter topping Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart after a remix.

Throughout her career, Stone earned multiple Grammy nominations, including Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group in 2003 for “More Than a Woman” with Joe, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2004 for “U-Haul.” She was nominated again in 2008 alongside Betty Wright for “Baby.”

Stone also collaborated with D’Angelo in the 1990s, co-writing songs for his albums Brown Sugar and Voodoo, and supporting him as a backup singer on tour.

Her impact on R&B and hip-hop remains undeniable, and her legacy will continue to inspire artists and fans around the world.