Contact Info:
www.smoothstoneny.com
SmoothStone.NY@gmail.com
Facebook.com/groups/SmoothStone
Call: 917-771-2285 -or- 917-773-7071
YouTube: SmoothStone@SmoothStone-on4eh
"Enjoying a great night listening to the velvety sounds of 'Smooth Stone'.” -Shari B. (a ‘Smooth Stone’ concert guest)
ABOUT
Smooth Stone is a duet cover-band, based in Queens, New York. Blending their early love of 70's Rock with their love of Country Music, both classic and modern, along with contemporary Pop and Irish Music, Tom Ryan and Linda Stone have found a way to deliver heartfelt, smooth, cool sounds through their instruments and vocals.
Linda Stone - has been singing as far back as she can remember. -"At the age of five, my grandmother gave me a small child's organ that came with a booklet that used numbers and letters to label the keys. I loved making music. Within a year, I found I could play with both hands without looking at the keyboard. I believe that gift from my dear grandmother sparked in me a curiosity and a love of music, while laying the groundwork for my future musical journey. I also loved watching and listening to my grandfather play the harmonica. He was self-taught and I was just in awe of the beautiful music he would make when he picked up his harmonica. Growing up, I sang in church choirs (my favorite part of church). I was always too shy to sing solo. A turning point for me happened when I mustered up the courage to sing in a teacher's choir on Fridays after school. I found the experience to be so gratifying, uplifting, and soul-enriching, that I decided to join a band. To me, singing is a cathartic experience. It allows you to express your emotions; when I sing, I feel the lyrics. I continually work on my craft…music brings me so much joy. My goals are to enjoy what I'm doing and to bring joy to my audience, through music. I also play guitar, flute, and harmonica, just because I love these instruments. I've performed at schools, at Connelly's Pub & Restaurant, NYC, at Pianos Bar/Restaurant, NYC, at Ocean Prime Bar & Restaurant, Maspeth, NY, at O'Neill's Bar & Restaurant, Maspeth, NY, and at other pubs, restaurants, and outdoor festivals in NY. Tom and I have put together a set list of songs that we love. We hope you do too."
Tom Ryan - has been playing guitar and performing since the 1960’s. "It all started on a beautiful summer day in the mid 1960’s. I heard the sound of a live band playing at a nearby bungalow. So I pedaled over on my bicycle and I found a live band with electric guitars playing Wipe Out and other great songs on my neighbors lawn. That was the first time that I had ever heard an electric guitar in person. I didn’t realize it then, but that encounter changed my life. I got an acoustic guitar and I learned a few chords, then joined the Folk Group at my church. I soon discovered that learning to play with a group was very useful skill. While I was in High School my Dad offered me a brand new Gibson guitar if I could score a 90% or better on the Geometry Regents exam, which of course I did. That 1972 Gibson SG changed everything. After hours a playing along with records and Jam sessions with my friends, I found myself playing licks from The Allman Brothers Band, Santana, The Doobie Brothers and any song that interested me. I studied Music Theory in College and I learned that great music consists of melody and harmony combined with a story that’s wrapped in rhythm and rhyme.
My big break came after I made a basement recording of my band on a home stereo Cassette tape recorder. A friend mine in the next town heard the tape and he offered me a job playing lead guitar in his band. The next thing I know I’m playing four sets of music a night in all the local bars. That went on for years. Sadly, we all grew up, got real jobs, started families and had kids (Just Kidding I Love my Family).
What really happened is that my responsibilities, both personal and professional, didn’t leave me much time to indulge in my love of playing music. Now that I’ve retired, I have returned to performing again. I love playing music for people, which leads me to ‘Smooth Stone’. Linda and I met and we created the duet, ‘Smooth Stone’. We play songs about Peace and Love, songs about Whiskey and Beer, songs about Boys and Girls and of course, songs about Beaches and Sunsets. I look forward to the opportunity to play for you and to brighten your day with our eclectic selection of music."