Fred Stone (musician)

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Stone was the son of saxophonist Archie Stone who was the orchestra leader of Toronto's Casino Theatre from 1936 to 1960. His initial musical studies were with his father. At the age of 14, he began studying the trumpet with Donald Reinhardt in Philadelphia, spending every summer in that city from 1950 to 1955. In his native city he studied music theory and music composition with Gordon Delamont (1955–60) and John Weinzweig (1960–1962).[2]

Stone began his performance career in 1951 at the age of 16 playing in Benny Louis's big band. From 1955 to 1967 he was a trumpeter in various orchestras related to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, including the CBC Symphony Orchestra. During the late 1950s and 1960s he performed widely as a concert soloist with orchestras throughout North America. He also performed actively as a jazz musician, playing regularly with such artists as Ron Collier (1960–73), Phil Nimmons (1965–70), the Boss Brass (1968–70), and Lighthouse (1969–70). In 1970–71 he toured North America and Europe with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.[1][3]

After returning to Toronto in 1971, Stone became highly involved with his work as a teacher and his performance career virtually ceased for the remainder of the decade; although he remained active as a composer. He was appointed artist-in-residence at Centennial College, where he taught classes from 1972 to 1973. He was also appointed to the music faculty at Humber College in 1972, where he taught through 1975. In 1976 he joined the faculty of George Brown College (GBC), where he taught for just one year. He also taught at the Blue Mountain School of Music, a school affiliated with the GBC. From 1977 until his death in Toronto in 1986, Stone ran his own private studio where he taught improvisational theory and music composition. His only performances in the mid- to late 1970s were periodic ones with small jazz ensembles whose members consisted mainly of his students.[1]