Gerald Lucas channels joyful reverence in "If You Want Me to Stay"

Gerald Lucas’ newest single, “If You Want Me To Stay," is a heartfelt yet triumphant homage to the late Sly Stone, who passed away on June 9, 2025, leaving a huge hole in the world of funk and soul. Lucas is no stranger to the art of high-level musical storytelling. A versatile violinist, guitarist, bassist, vocalist, songwriter, and arranger, Lucas has built a reputation that reaches from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center and includes several collaborative projects such as Rhythm Rock, Mutagenic, GMJ Groove, and Dirty City. Lucas’ newest single, “If You Want Me To Stay," is a heartfelt yet triumphant homage to the late Sly Stone, who passed away on June 9, 2025, leaving a huge hole in the world of funk and soul.

The track has a bright, uplifting energy from the first moments, one of gratitude and admiration rather than mourning. Lucas doesn't attempt to copy Stone but rather captures his spirit with expressive instrumentation and a buoyant rhythmic pulse. The arrangement feels alive, with groove-forward basslines, shimmering melodic phrases and a sense of everyday interplay between instruments that mirrors the improvisational freedom. Stone helped define.

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