Henry Stone had soul. Henry Stone had rhythm. Henry Stone had beats.
Henry Stone had an ear for what music people wanted to listen to, dance to and buy. He died August 7 in Miami. He was 93.
Stone came to Miami in the late 1940s, recording musicians and releasing their music, including that of a young Ray Charles. In the 1960s he foundedTK Records.
The label would become a driving force in the early days of disco with KC and the Sunshine Band, Betty Wright and George McRae. Among those hanging around the TK Studios in the early 1970s was local club DJ Bill Kelly.
He spun records by TK artists and others as the disco craze hit South Florida. In 1985, Kelly founded the Winter Music Conference in Miami. It remains the pre-eminent music conference for the dance music industry.
Below, hear an interview with Kelly about his memories of Henry Stone.
