Peter “Brownie” Brown is a co-founder of STONE and his musical expertise since 5th grade includes recorder, guitar, banjo, keyboards, trumpet, vocals and a few other instruments! With STONE he adds a dynamic organ with a Leslie speaker (his secret weapon) to fill our songs with the iconic wobbly vibrato! He also sings harmony, switches to guitar on some songs, and directs our playing. He has been known to shout “Again!” many times during a tune! We look for cues from his arms, head shakes, shout-outs or other body movements to lead the band!
Bill “Fax” Marshall is the other co-founder of STONE. Best friends since kindergarten, Bill and Pete played many late ’60s tunes on guitars together at their childhood homes. After news of Woodstock (no they didn’t attend!) they had the original idea of starting a band and calling it STONE. Bill switched to bass and plays many a mean bass riff. While keeping things low, he is also a planner and shaker for the band, always thinking of ways to bring out the fun in the music. He is often at his home BASSment studio playing classic rock and working up set lists for the band’s next practice!
Charlie, a.k.a. Sir Charles or “CV”, Valentine is an accomplished percussionist having been a member of the school marching band and orchestra. Knowing Pete and Bill since 3rd grade, he was the drummer they wanted to join STONE. He now provides the groove and energy that keeps us going! He lays down a great tempo beat for us to follow and fills in when we run out of things to do! He cues us in for when the songs start and when they stop! Throughout his life Charlie has been a highly sought-after drummer playing and plays often with a local jazz group.
Art Davis (a.k.a. Artemis) plays rock, blues, country, bluegrass, southern rock, country rock, and everything else guitar! Pete and Bill saw him at a local church, asked him to audition with STONE and the rest is history! Now STONE had keys, bass, drums and guitar but needed a great front man! (enter Nelson) Early musical influences were Chicago, Joe Walsh, Santana, and yes, The Monkees! Favorite artists will always be The Eagles, Beatles, J.J. Cale and George Harrison. Art’s versatility creates multi-dimensional sounds and effects for STONE. He’ll even add a mandolin to the mix on Maggie May!
Nelson “Spider” Stephens was the final addition to the early STONE band. Our solid front man is always a crowd favorite. Nelson adds that soulful and exuberant style to the music that expanded the bands repertoire to include hits from artists such as Sly and the Family Stone, Santana, 3-Dog Night, Wilson Pickett, CCR, Otis Redding, and many more. Some of his best covers include Dance to the Music, Born to be Wild and Joy to the World (not the Christmas Carol unless it’s requested!). He lived overseas for a few years after singing with STONE, but he’s back now and ready to sing again! The second return of Nelson will be another celebration of music from our high school years.
Mike “Coach” Hayes, is also an accomplished percussionist like Charlie, and he sits in on songs which call for something more than just drums (i.e. all the songs!). In high school days he played “part time” with STONE occasionally as a second drummer adding a great beat. Mike has been known to also fill the air with sounds of bongos, timpani, maracas, wood pipes, tom-toms, and crow bars on a lead pipe. Mike’s specialty percussions in STONE are invaluable working with Charlie and adding whatever it takes to fill out a sound and beat, including MORE COWBELL!
Mark True came to STONE in 2015 after our 40-year restart! Mark is a 50 yr. friend of Pete, Bill and Mike from day one of college. He has had a long successful professional country music songwriting and performing career. He majored in music and since then he made his mark in Nashville’s music industry. Mark is the only one of the band members to have had a successful professional career in music. Many of his songs have been performed by well-known artists and he is best known for writing Crystal Gayle’s #1 hits, “Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For” and “Too Many Lovers.” Check out more of his bio at this link from a recent Songwriters Festival
Mark True — Opelika Songwriters Festival.