Michael Stone is a reggae and rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriter from Madison,
Wisconsin. The collection contains commercial recordings from throughout Michael Stone's
musical career, beginning with the single "Rock is Rolling Forward/Rasta Dread", which was
released in 1975 under the name Gittar Dread. Stone's next release was with the Roots Band,
which formed in Madison in 1976 with fellow songwriters Marcos Gonzalez and Dave Plaehn.
In the 1980s, he released several records with Stone Foundation and Reggae Allstars,
produced an EP for Tina and the Tigers featuring Clyde Stubblefield, and wrote the lyrics
for "The End of Bigotry", performed by Michael St. John and a chorus of children from
Madison area schools. He recorded two albums, "Strength in Numbers" and "Time Stand Still",
at Smart Studios in Madison.
In 1991, Michael Stone was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Reggae Album at the
GRAMMY awards, and was nominated again for Best Rock Vocal – Male and Best Rock Song for the
single "Speak Your Truth" in 1993. In 2007, he performed on an album by the Blackstone
Reggae Allstars, and in 2011 he joined with Peter "Ras Kikit" Johnston, Stefan Truesdell,
and Jack Whitney to form the Kingtown Rockers. Several of Stone's earlier records were
rereleased by Boat Recordings in 2014.
