Members
- Tom McDermott - Lead Guitar
- Lanise Hughes - Drums
- Nate Guido Hughes - Percussions
- Oscar Alston - Bass
- Levi Ruffin - Keyboard(s)
- Danny LeMelle - Horns
- Eddie Fluellen - Keyboards(s)
- Mark Love Gonsalves - Lead, Background Vocals
- JaRay Earl - Lead Vocals
- Tanya D Graham - Lead, Background Vocals
About Stone City Band
As expressed in many interviews and articles in the 80’s and still today…
“To experience Rick James The Stone City Band live in concert is like an adrenaline rush of pure unabashed raw energy”
Behind every Rock Star, there is a great band. Grammy and American Music Award-Winning...Platinum and Gold Record Producing...They are considered by many of their peers to be one of the greatest live-performing funk/rock bands ever to hit a stage! An adrenaline rush of pure, unabashed, raw energy. The Stone City Band is ready to "Fire Up That Funk."
They were formed in 1978 by The King of Punk Funk, Rick James. The Stone City Band served as Rick's exclusive recording and touring band from the beginning to 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," and "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 released their 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 Mary Jane Girls, The Temptations, Eddie Murphy, Smokey Robinson, New Edition and Bobby Brown 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 Year's Eve, and countless 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' Stone City Band. Pulsating bass lines and irresistible rhythms!
The Stone City Band comprises original Motown and Gordy recording producing and touring musicians Lanise Hughes, Tom McDermott, Levi Ruffin, Oscar Alston, Nate Guido Hughes, and Danny Lemelle.