[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 60 (Saturday, April 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E766-E767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ANGELA L. STONE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 11, 2003

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a native 
South Carolinian and multi-talented dignitary in the entertainment 
industry, Angela L. Stone. By proudly representing her home state in 
her enormously successful recording career, Ms. Stone will be inducted 
to the Columbia Housing Authority's Wall of Fame on April 17, 2003.
  Like so many successful recording artists, Ms. Stone began her 
singing career in the church. At the age of 11, she performed her

[[Page E767]]

first gospel solo, ``The Harvest is Plentiful,'' at First Nazareth 
Baptist Church in Columbia. Recognizing his daughter's precocious 
ability, her father inspired his only child by taking her to gospel 
performances by the likes of the Singing Angels and the Gospel 
Keynotes.
  While starring as a basketball player at C.A. Johnson High School, 
Stone spent much of her spare time nurturing her artistic talents by 
writing poetry. Upon graduation, she turned down college basketball 
scholarship offers to pursue her passion and embarked upon a career in 
the music industry.
  Ms. Stone saved money to record her demo at a Columbia studio called 
PAW. Shortly thereafter, her self-taught keyboard skills along with her 
naturally melodious singing voice would quickly garner the attention of 
the music industry. Her professional career took off in the mid-80s 
when she joined the rap trio Sequence. After the group disbanded, she 
began collaborations with rap group Mantronix and rock singer Lenny 
Kravitz. She then formed the neo-soul trio Vertical Hold, who first 
reached the R&B charts in 1988 with ``Summertime.'' The group's 1993 
single, ``Seems You're Much Too Busy'' reached number 17 on the charts.
  Ms. Stone signed a contract with Arista Records in 1997. While with 
Arista, she recorded her first album, Black Diamond, in 1999. The title 
of the album's first hit single was ``No More Rain (In This Cloud),'' 
was inspired by a phrase her father would use when Stone would ask for 
money: ``There's no more rain in this cloud.''
  Several movie soundtracks feature Ms. Stone's talent. They include 
``Disappearing Acts,'' ``Bamboozled'' and ``Love & Basketball.'' She 
released her second album, Mahogany Soul, in 2001. The album made 
Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 list of albums for that year. Ms. Stone 
was also a 2003 Grammy Nominee.
  Ms. Stone made her ``big screen'' debut in the movie Hot Chicks. She 
has recently completed filming of her second movie, The Fighting 
Temptations starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. She can currently be seen in 
Coca-Cola and Gap television commercials, and is preparing for her 
first appearance on Broadway in the musical, Chicago.
  Mr. Speaker, I plan to be present for Ms Stone's induction ceremony 
on Thursday April 17th, and ask you and my colleagues to join me in 
commending Angela L. Stone for her achievements in the entertainment 
industry. Her status and visibility in music and film is worthy of much 
praise and pride from her family, friends, and all in her native state 
of South Carolina.

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