Taylor Swift Not First to Wed at Madison Square Garden

In 1977, Sly and the Family Stone transformed Madison Square Garden into a stage for one of the most extravagant weddings of the decade. The event blended rock-and-roll spectacle with 1970s glamour, drawing attention for its celebrity guests and audacious fusion of fashion, music, and theatricality. The venue, already a hub for major events, became a temporary cathedral for the union of Sly Stone and his wife, Linda LaDonna “Linda” Stewart, who would later be known as Linda Stone.

Madison Square Garden had long been a venue for grand productions, from the Battle of Versailles fashion show to the iconic “Happy Birthday” celebration for Marilyn Monroe. For Sly Stone’s wedding, the arena was transformed into a space where music, fashion, and ceremony collided. The event’s creative force, Joe Eula, a visionary in the fashion world, approached the occasion with the same theatrical ambition that had defined his work on the Battle of Versailles.

Eula’s original vision for the wedding included elements that would have pushed the boundaries of spectacle. White doves were to soar through the arena, and Donyale Luna was to fly overhead like Tinker Bell, scattering gold glitter. However, logistical and security concerns led to modifications. Despite these changes, the wedding retained its opulence. A procession of 12 Black models in custom Halston gowns set the tone, their outfits designed to resemble “Botticelli in 3-D.” The bride and groom, both clad in Halston’s signature fabric, emerged in a cascade of gold and sequins, their attire a reflection of the era’s excess.

The ceremony itself, held on the Garden’s stage, was a mix of tradition and performance. Sly Stone, ever the enigmatic figure, wore a shimmering gold jumpsuit with a provocative open zipper, while Linda Stone’s halter gown draped dramatically behind her. The vows were exchanged under the watchful eyes of nearly 23,000 attendees, including a phalanx of television cameras and photographers. Bishop B. R. Stewart officiated, pronouncing the couple husband and wife to the roar of the crowd.

Following the ceremony, the celebration moved to the Waldorf-Astoria’s Starlight Roof, where the reception was as lavish as the wedding itself. The event’s guest list read like a who’s who of 1970s fame, featuring Andy Warhol, Halston, Diane von Furstenberg, and others. The reception’s theme—gold—was carried through every detail, from the Japanese and soul-food buffet to the towering wedding cake adorned with a gleaming gold record.

Despite the grandeur, the marriage between Sly Stone and Linda Stone did not endure. They separated months after the wedding and divorced within two years. Yet, the spectacle of their union remains a defining moment of 1970s excess and creativity. The wedding, with its fusion of music, fashion, and theatricality, encapsulated the era’s allure, leaving a legacy that outlasted the marriage itself.