Gradie Stone

Gradie Stone is a true musicians' singer & comes from a real musicians' family. Her dad led the very popular "Kirby Stone Four" through the fifties & sixties. Their gold selling hit "Baubles Bangles & Beads" was nominated for a grammy. Her mom was a singer with the vocal group "The Demarco Sisters" Gradie grew up in both North Jersey & Las Vegas. She attended William Paterson University & was a jazz vocal major in the jazz studies program led by Thad Jones. Following school she hit the road with various groups & artists. Upon returning to New Jersey Gradie joined an R&B/jazz group and worked steadily in the New York metro area. It was while working these gigs that she was heard by renowned jazz saxaphonist, George Young who installed her as the singer in his "All Star" jazz band. Although some of Gradies' first influences include artists such as Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee, etc. she also grew up listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross , Manhattan Transfer & Chaka Kahn so she considers her approach to jazz a bit different than someone not taken by pop music. She infuses a little more funk & R&B then say a "traditional" jazz singer would. In 1997 Gradie released her first C.D. "After all These Years" on Niki Records. The C.D was a success on all fronts, musically, critically & commercially. Her second C.D. "Gradie Stone Live" was recorded in one night at a beautiful theater in Paterson N.J. It showcases the relaxed spontaneity, swinging feel and soulful interpretation of one of the jazz worlds' best singers.