Henry Stone

American trumpeter, producer, songwriter, independent distributor and record executive,

Born: June 3, 1921 in Bronx, New York,
Dead: August 07, 2014 in Miami, Florida

Henry Stone , born Henry David Epstein, served in the Army's first integrated band at Camp Kilmer New Jersey for World War II. Moved to California after the war and began working for [url=http://www.discogs.com/label/92737-Modern-Records-2]Modern Records, and [url=http://www.discogs.com/label/76292-Aladdin-Records]Aladdin Records. Discovered the artist Charles Brown in Downtown Los Angeles. Sold indie r&b out of the trunk of his car, and to train porters for national distribution. Moved to Miami, Florida in 1948 and opened up shop as a record distributor, with a sideline in recording. Founded labels like Dade, Dash, Chart, Rockin', and Glory for releases by artists like Ray Charles' "St Pete Florida Blues". In the 1950's he revived [url=http://www.discogs.com/label/51018-Deluxe-2]DeLuxe Records'[/url] on a 50% split deal with Syd Nathan[/url] as a subsidiary of King Records. He discovered Otis Williams and The Charms on a street corner in Cincinnati, signed them on the spot, and produced [url=http://www.discogs.com/Charms-The-Hearts-Of-Stone-Who-Knows/release/940207]"Hearts Of Stone,"[/url] a million selling early crossover record. He wrote the followup, Session With Sinatra which also charted and was covered by Frank Sinatra and others. Stone is the founder of several Miami-based labels such as T.K. Records, he was the leading factor in shaping the 1970s Miami Sound with artists like Betty Wright, [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/KC+%26+The+Sunshine+Band]KC & The Sunshine Band[/url] and Gwen McCrae. He released George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby" in 1974, the world's first independent global disco hit, and landed two acts on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack album for "Boogie Shoes," and Ralph MacDonald's[/url] "Calypso Breakdown." When TK Productions went bankrupt in 1980, Stone founded Sunnyview Records with Morris Levey. They came up with hits like Newcleus "Jam On It," and Connie's "Funky Little Beat." He also founded Hot Productions, a leading indie distributor and manufacturer.
Husband of [a=Inez Stone] and father of Joe Stone.