15 Facts About Henry Stone

Henry Stone was best known as co-owner and president of TK Records, but reportedly set up more than 100 record labels, and generated more than $100 million in record sales across the world.

In 1947, Henry Stone settled in Miami, Florida, setting up his own distribution company, Seminole, and shortly afterwards the Crystal recording studio.

Henry Stone was instrumental in signing James Brown to King, and in recording Brown's first hit "Please, Please, Please".

Henry Stone set up Tone Distribution, which became one of the most successful record distribution companies, working with Atlantic, Motown, Stax and many more independent labels.

Alaimo had previously recorded for Henry Stone and been a Tone employee.

Henry Stone set up the Glades label, recording the million selling hit "Why Can't We Live Together" by Timmy Thomas.

Henry Stone established many different labels on the basis, he said, that it was easier to get records played if the radio stations did not realize they came from the same source.

In 1972, Henry Stone heard from Jerry Wexler that Warner Record's Atlantic and Elektra divisions would merge, handle its own distribution, and no longer use Tone.

TK Records ceased operating by 1981, and Henry Stone went into partnership with Morris Levy of Roulette Records, Joe Robinson of Sugar Hill Records, and Tom Ficara of Combined Artists to form the Sunnyview label, issuing records by funk and rap artists such as Newcleus.

Henry Stone later became involved with Hot Productions in the reissue of dance classics on CD.

In 2004, Henry Stone was awarded the first ever Pioneer Award for the Dance Music Hall of Fame, which was presented in New York City.

Henry Stone died of natural causes in Miami on August 7,2014, at the age of 93.

Henry Stone is buried at Riverside-Gordon Memorial Gardens in North Miami Beach.

Henry Stone owned a music publishing company bearing the name Sherlyn Music.

Henry Stone had 2 additional daughters, Crystal and Kim, as well as a son, David.