GRADIE STONE RETURNS HOME FOR METROPOLITAN ROOM SHOWS
After touring in Europe and performing in many cabaret and jazz clubs
in the U.S., native New Yorker Ms. Gradie Stone returns home to appear
at the THE METROPOLITAN ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440
-
http://www.metropolitanroom.com/
) on Friday & Saturday, August 17th & 18th at 8:00 pm. She is joined
by Bob Himmelberger on piano, Rick Crane on bass and drummer Vince
Cherico.
Gradie, a true musician's singer, comes from a real
musician's family. Her dad, Kirby Stone, led the very popular Kirby
Stone Four through the 50s and 60s. Their gold selling 1957 hit,
Baubles, Bangles and Beads was nominated for a Grammy and propelled
them onto the national stage. The Ed Sullivan Show and all the clubs
from New York to Las Vegas were regular stops for this Columbia
Records recording act. Gradie's mom Julie was a singer with the
vocal group The Demarco Sisters , and handed Gradie a microphone
as soon as she could speak. It shows.
Gradie grew up in both New Jersey and Las Vegas. She
attended William Paterson University in New Jersey and was a vocal
major in the jazz studies program led by Thad Jones. Following school,
she hit the road with various groups and artists, and toured the
country opening for the likes of Lou Rawls, Rodney Dangerfield and
Frank Sinatra Jr. Upon returning to New Jersey, Gradie joined an
R&B/jazz group and worked steadily in the Atlantic City, New York
and Philadelphia areas. It was while working these gigs that she
was heard by saxophonist George Young, who installed her as the
singer with his All Star jazz band.
Gradie returned to north Jersey in the early nineties
and devoted herself exclusively to jazz singing. In 1997 Gradie
released her first recording, After All These Years on Niki Records.
The CD, heard on over one hundred and twenty two radio stations,
spent sixteen weeks on the Gavin charts. The CD was a success on
all fronts, musically, critically and commercially. Another recording
was planned, but as so often happens, life intruded. Although she
continued to work, family obligations made recording impossible.
Now, finally, seven years after her first recording,
Gradie and Niki Records are happy to release her second CD, "Gradie
Stone Live!" Recorded in one night at a beautiful theater in Paterson
NJ, the CD showcases the relaxed spontaneity, swinging feel and
soulful interpretation of one of the jazz world s best singers.
Now getting ready to go back on the road, Gradie will be bringing
her special talent to THE METROPOLITAN ROOM.
There is a $20 cover plus a 2-beverage minimum.
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