In 1969 two best friends since kindergarten, we’ll call them Bill and Pete, who had been playing guitars together for three years, decided they wanted to start a band. They named the band STONE after hearing about a Led Zeppelin cover band called Stone Balloon playing in Orlando, FL. It had nothing to do with the Rolling Stones or Sly and the Family Stone who were popular at the time, but STONE sounded better for a rock band than BALLOON!
Pete and Bill recruited Charlie on drums, a great friend since third grade and drummer in the ORHS band. Next came Art on guitar who they heard might be interested, and finally Nelson who was playing baseball on the ORHS team. The five of us practiced in Charlie’s basement, Art’s den, and Pete’s porch during the Spring and Summer of 1970.This was the beginning of the band STONE.
After feeling good enough with what we could do, we secured jobs starting in our junior year of high school (1970) as the regular dance band at Coalfield High School after football games, as well as at Jefferson Junior High School sock hops. The band had a gig on almost a weekly basis. Mike (Coach) joined occasionally as a guest drummer playing alongside Charlie to add to our beat. We ultimately progressed to playing on Friday nights at the Oak Ridge Civic Center after ORHS football games.
