RICK JAMES' ORIGINAL STONE CITY BAND

Artist Information

Grammy and American Music Award Winning… Platinum and Gold Record Producing… Considered by many of their peers, as being one of the greatest live performing Funk/Rock Bands to ever hit a stage! …An adrenaline rush of pure unabashed raw energy!! The Original Stone City Band is ready to “Fire Up That Funk!!”

Formed in 1978, by The King of Punk Funk, Rick James, The Original Stone City Band served as Rick's exclusive recording and touring band from the beginning and through the height of his career. They were responsible for cranking out the memorable sounds to timeless hits such as “You and I”, “Super Freak”, “Mary Jane”, “Bustin’ Out”, “Ghetto Life”, “Fire and Desire”, The Temptations’ “Standing on the Top”, The Mary Jane Girls’ “All Night Long”, “Boys”, “In My House” and many, many more.

This legendary band not only have released their own albums under Motown's Gordy Label, but for more than two decades, have provided the sounds that have been heard on recordings and tours with Rick James, MC Hammer, Teena Marie, The Temptations, Eddie Murphy, The Mary Jane Girls, Smokey Robinson, New Edition and Bobby Brown just to name a few.

Their musical performances can be seen on The Grammy’s, The American Music and Soul Train Awards, as well as appearances on the Arsenio Hall, Tonight with Jay Leno and Lopez Tonight Shows, Saturday Night Live, Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve, and many more. Countless samplings are used by many of today’s Hip Hop artists. On any given day, you can watch a TV commercial or listen to your Radio and you will hear that distinctive signature sound of Rick James’ Original Stone City Band. …Pulsating bass lines and irresistible rhythms!!

The Original Stone City Band is made up of original Motown and Gordy recording, producing and touring musicians Lanise Hughes, Tom McDermott, Nate Guido Hughes, and; joined by Jimmy Ali (an alum of  Motown and P-Funk, one half of The Brothers Ali), Eddie Fluellen (founding member of Switch); along with Sheli Casana and Mark Love Gonsalves (former background for Rick James) on lead vocals and background vocals.

Along with their hits "Ladies Choice", "Strut Your Stuff", "Freaky" and others; a portion of the show pays a beautifully produced tribute to the late Rick James and Teena Marie with hits such as “Bustin’ Out", “Ghetto Life", "Superfreak", "Mary Jane", "Fire and Desire" and much more. The crowds love the show and coming out in numbers! Time to FUNK'n'ROLL!!