Stack is an award winning writer, photographer and musician who performs in a wide variety of genres. Stack Jones (born Jack Stone) grew up in Miami, Florida and began his music career performing at premiere venues such as The Button, The Cameo Theatre, The Jockey Club, Club 1235 and Club Nu. Stack has recorded with two-time Grammy Award winning producer Karl Richardson, and has worked with two-time Emmy Award winning TV producer Alan Sacks, and Academy Award winning documentary filmmaker, and activist Ric O'Barry.
Early career
Stack Jones began his musical career by performing at live venues in Miami's original music circuit with his band The Spinout. Band members were Jones, writer, guitarist, Jorge (Lenny) Respedo on bass, Randy Blitz (formerly of Screaming Sneakers) on drums, and Steve Hoffman (formerly of The Rollin' Pinz) on vocals. Steve Hoffman was replaced by vocalist Steven Lambert and Randy Blitz was replaced by Joey Maya who had been the drummer in Miami's punk band, The Reactions.
The first Spinout gig took place at Manor Lanes Bowling Alley in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During the band's live performance, a bomb exploded under a van in the parking lot. The explosion was so powerful that it shook the entire building, knocked people off their feet and blew out windows in the alley as well as office buildings that were hundreds of yards away. The blast did major damage to the parking lot and destroyed several vehicles. Luckily nobody was injured.
The Spinouts performed a variety of music, from rockabilly to pop punk, rock, surf and hard rock. The band and hardcore fans often clashed during live performances, where the audience would expect a particular genre of music and The Spinouts would deliver another. This especially irked the rockabilly traditionalists, who would come to shows decked in oldies garb, and find The Spinouts playing punk, or other forms of contemporary music. The Spinouts performed in venues throughout the East Coast of the U.S., including New York City's legendary CBGB's, and Gildersleeves and Miami's Jockey Club. Bob Marlowe, entertainment writer for the Miami Herald wrote; "Stack Jones writes tunes that segue into a set like a hand into a well-worn glove. Boring is one adjective I'd never use to describe this guy."
In 1983, The Spinouts released a single on Pete Moss', Juke Box titled; Shake Like A Hurricane. This compilation album can be found at The Pete Moss Memorial All-Night Record Shop. The record is described as a snapshot of the South Florida punk/new wave scene at the time.
In 1984, band manager Alan Kavares and fans believed the band had a hit song titled; Once Burnt Twice Shy. The band entered the studio to record their debut album. However, the self-produced EP released in 1985; Revelation VI, did not include the catchy rockabilly tune. A staff writer for the Miami News, (a now defunct newspaper), wrote; "It appears that another band hijacked The Spinouts' studio sessions." Revelation VI was dark and heavy, with apocalyptic overtones. The audience that came to know The Spinouts as a flashy, retro act was surprised by the release. The Spinouts relished in the controversy.
In 1985, Jones won Best Guitarist Award at the first Miami Music Awards show. The Spinouts were interviewed for MTV by (FM Station) Y100 DJ Corey James, and appeared on a variety of local TV and radio shows, such as the University of Miami's WVUM radio station and The Ed Rich Rock Show. While making their appearance on The Ed Rich Rock Show, the band was given cards to fill out. These would be the questions asked during the live broadcast. The band intentionally shuffled the cards and gave straight face answers that were not relevant to the questions posed. Ed Rich remained composed during the 30-minute airing, but didn't seem to appreciate the prank.
The highlight for The Spinouts was headlining the famous Coconut Grove Bed Race to an estimated audience of 70,000. The opening act was a then relatively unknown, Miami Sound Machine. The band also performed the ballad; Needles And Pins live at Club Blitz in Hialeah, Florida with The Ramones front man, Joey Ramone. After extensive gigging in Florida and New York City, the group disbanded in December of 1985.
On December 12, 1985 shortly after returning to Miami from New York, Jones' girlfriend, Maia Matasowski, flight service manager for Arrow Air, died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash in Gander, Newfoundland. The accident was investigated by the Canadian Aviation Safety Board (CASB), which determined the probable cause of the crash was due to ice on the wings. However, another (CASB) report stated that the accident could have been caused by an on board explosion prior to impact. On the day of the crash, Islamic Jihad, a wing of the Iranian backed Hezbollah, claimed responsibility.
That same winter, former Spinout vocalist, Steven Lambert, brother Gary Lambert, Billy La Volpe and Ron Norton, formed the hardcore punk band Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace had some early club, touring and college radio success with their debut single; The Day, which the band released independently on Entities. The album was produced by Hal Hansford who is most known for his work with The Romantics and their album, In Heat. Surprisingly, rare copies of Entities can be found on the Internet, and sell for as much as US $1600.00 each.
In 1986, Amazing Grace and Billy La Volpe parted and Steven Lambert asked Jones to join the band. At the time Amazing Grace was performing hardcore punk, and Jones agreed to join if the band would broaden their music style including hard rock, alternative and southern rock. Amazing Grace agreed and the band's popularity increased as a result of this change.
Jones appeared as a guest speaker on WSVN News Radio, WQAM Miami, Piper High School WKPX radio and University of Miami radio station WVUM. This was during the time when conservatives were trying to impose an Explicit Lyrics and Parental Advisory Labeling scheme on record albums.
Jones argued that labeling music would circumvent the First Amendment rights of free speech that are guaranteed under the Constitution of the U.S. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
During this period, Amazing Grace performed shows at The Cameo Theater, with nearly every alternative act that was touring the U.S., including Lord's of the New Church, Killing Joke, Suicidal Tendencies, The Ramones and many more.
Early on, Smidek Corporation, a company that operated a variety of businesses, including a recording studio, managed Amazing Grace. Smidek would later be accused by state and federal drug enforcement agencies as being a front for drug smuggling, with ties to Pablo Escobar of the infamous Medellin cartel. The owner of Smidek, Dave Smith, had grown up in Miami, and was a childhood friend of the band's singer, Steven Lambert. Both Smith, and Lambert were indicted along with Pablo Escobar. Smith and Escobar (in abstencia) were convicted of drug smuggling, tax evasion and conspiracy. The charges filed against Steve Lambert were dismissed due to lack of enough evidence to convict.
In 1987, during the Smidek era, Stack Jones and Amazing Grace recorded the band's second album with producer Hal Hansford titled; On And On. Amazing Grace appeared on the TV show Miami Vice, performing their song 14. At this time the band was receiving a lot of national attention, receiving a vast amount of airplay on underground, and college alternative radio stations, as well as underground dance clubs.
1988, Bill Bakula of Bandman Productions, a Miami based concert promoter, who often booked Amazing Grace to perform with international acts, married Jamie Shoop who is credited for discovering Prince in Minnesota. During the early stage of Prince’s career, Shoop had been Prince's personal manager. Shoop also managed Los Angeles' rockers Warrant of Columbia Records. It was during this period, Shoop was introduced to Amazing Grace, and began to manage the band's career.
In 1989, the band recorded an album with nine-time nominated and two-time Grammy Award winning producer Karl Richardson. The untitled project, considered by some as Amazing Grace's best recordings, was never released, due to the legal issues surrounding the band's singer and former management. That same year, Ron Obermen, the vice president of Columbia Records, was quoted as saying: "I'm Amazed by Amazing Grace." He wanted the band to relocate to Los Angeles, and to develop the band. Jones pushed for the band to relocate, but certain band members were more interested in their other careers. During this period, the band recorded videos for their songs, 14, and Fire In The Distance. The bands recorded Beauty (Deeper Than The Flesh, which was the bands strongest studio recording, produced by Karl Richardson was accidentally destroyed due to improper storage of the master tapes. Other Amazing Grace recordings include, All The World Is Roses, Don't Walk Away, End Of Time, and Sweet Vibrations. As a result of the destruction of the studio tapes there are no known copies of the video 14, and the band's single, Beauty (Deeper Than The Flesh). The entire Richardson sessions are gone forever.
With all the legal troubles that the band was experiencing, it was difficult to remain a cohesive unit. To make matters worse for the band, manager Shoop was hospitalized with severe liver failure. Shoop fell into a coma and nearly died as a result of Tylenol poisoning. At the time it was not known that Acetaminophen (Tylenol) caused serious liver damage. See WebMD.com for further details. It was at this point that Jones decided to end his relationship with Amazing Grace, and relocate from Miami, Florida to Los Angeles, California.
Mid career
In 1996, Jones received a BA in film production from Loyola Marymount University (honors Magna Cum Laude). In 1997, he received audio/video engineering certification from Soundmaster Recording Institute, which was owned and operated by legendary record producer/engineer, and former MCA president, Brian Ingoldsby. The audio/video school has changed its name to Pinnacle College.
Jones didn't stay out of the industry long. He began to write and develop projects for Japanese TV production company, Tsuburya Productions, and with two-time Emmy Award winning producer Alan Sacks, creator of Welcome Back Cotter, the show that began John Travolta's entertainment career.
Jones began to write screenplays after befriending his next-door neighbor Sally Marr, the mother of legendary comedian Lenny Bruce. Sally got Jack his first break in the film industry when she sent a copy of his screenplay, Vow Of Silence to legendary film producer Marvin Worth. An interview with Mr. Worth led to other writing opportunities. "I met Sally in an odd manner. I noticed the paint on my vehicle was damaged. It was caused by the car parked next to mine. I knew it was an elderly woman who lived next door to me, so I knocked on her door to find out what happened? Marr told Jones that she had paid the groundskeeper a few dollars to park her car because she didn't want to damage the "nice new truck." Ironically, Playboy Magazine was interviewing Ms. Marr at the time this conversation took place. The entire conversation ended up being printed in Playboy magazine. That's how I learned who my neighbor was."
In 1999, Jack Stone was credited for doing stunts for comedian Carrot Top in a film titled, Chairman Of The Board. In 2002 Jack Stone is credited for editing the award-winning Young Man Kang, Korean/American film, Soap Girl. The film was released on DVD in 2006.
In 2007, Jack Stone received a Juris Doctorates degree at La Verne Law School, and a California brokers license. He received several awards during this period including the IVAMS award for excellence in mediation and arbitration. Jones relocated to Japan during the worldwide economic banking, real estate, and finance scandal.
Stack's back
In 2009, Jones returned to music and signed a recording contract with Cherry Street Records and released three solo albums; Stack Jones; 13 Rowdy Row, Stack Jones; Mostly Odd Things He Does and Stack Jones; Live/Love/Live. The standout tunes on; 13 Rowdy Row are Ugly Ducklin', Deal With The Devil, and C'mon Be My Gal. Ugly Ducklin' has netted Stack several awards including, Best Male Vocalist, Artist Of The Week, and Song Of The Week on Apple's GarageBand.com. During this time, Jones recorded a live album titled; Live/Love/Live. The album; Mostly Odd Things He Does has five music video releases, titles include, Dream On, Different Shades Of Blue, I Heard From Her Today, Madness and Where Is God. Stack also wrote and illustrated a children's story titled; The Ladybug Loses Her Hat.
In 2010, Jones worked with activist Ric O'Barry to help stop the dolphin slaughter that's taking place in Taiji, Japan. Ric O'Barry is notable for his contribution as an animal rights activist and the Academy Award documentary, The Cove.
In 2011, Jones, along with hundreds of thousands of other people, found himself stranded in Japan as a result of the triple disaster that struck on March 11th, 2011. Jones had been residing in the northeastern region for two and a half years prior to the disaster, where he had been photographing the regions that are now completely destroyed. During this time Jones appeared on two episodes of MSNBC Dateline with Brian Williams, PBS, and ABC Action News. His photography of the disaster netted a Wordpress.com, Freshly Pressed Award for Jones' blog titled, Photo Journal Japan, which can be viewed at http://photojournaljapan.wordpress.com. During this time Jones began writing a book titled, An Unfortunate Event: Japan’s Triple Disaster. Jones is also working on a documentary on the same subject matter, and a new album titled, Five Sides To Every Story.
Discography
• Stack Jones: Mostly Odd Things He Does. (2010)
• Stack Jones: Live/Love/Live. (2010)
• Amazing Grace: Risen From The Dead. (2010)
• Stack Jones: 13 Rowdy Row. (2009)
• Miami Rocks Too Compilation. (1990)
• Amazing Grace: Untitled Karl Richardson Production. (1988)
• Amazing Grace: On and On. (1987)
• Rick Lennick's Florida Explosion. (1985)
• A Sea of Glass: Entering Therein. (1985)
• Spinout: Revelation VI. (1984)
• Pete Moss: Juke Box Compilation. (1983)
Filmography/Videography
• ABC: Japan Disaster Reporting. (2011)
• NBC Datelline: Disaster In Japan. (2011)
• PBS: Disaster In Japan Reporting. (2011)
• Stack Jones: Dream On. (2010)
• Stack Jones: Different Shades of Blue. (2010)
• Stack Jones: I Heard From Her Today. (2010)
• Stack Jones: Madness. (2010)
• Stack Jones: Where Is God. (2010)
• Stack Jones: Senme6 Interview. (2010)
• Soap Girl: Editor and sound mixer. Winner Big Bear International Film Festival Audience Choice Award. (2002)
• Chairman Of The Board: Stunts. (1998)
• Samurion Interactive. (1997)
• Amazing Grace: Video All The World Is Rose. (1991)
• Amazing Grace: Video Fire In the Distance. (1989)
• Amazing Grace: Video 14. (1989)
• Miami Vice: Amazing Grace appearance and performance. (1988)
• Ed Rich Rock Show: Spinouts appearance and performance. (1984)
• MTV: Spinout interview. (1984)
Published Work
• Big Blue Orb: Plastic Planet. http://bigblueorb.wordpress.com. (2011)
• Japan Ease: Learn Japanese. http//:japanease.wordpress.com. (2011)
• Law Subject Outlines. http://lawoutlines.wordpress.com. (2011)
• Photo Journal Japan. http://photojournaljapan.wordpress.com. (2011)
• The Banking Swindle. http://criminalbankingmonopoly.wordpress.com. (2011)
• The Seed Indeed. http://theseedindeed.wordpress.com. (2011)
• The Ladybug Loses Her Hat: Stack Deck Publishing. (2011)
• Unfullfilled Man: New Voices in American Poetry. ISBN 0-533-09451-8. (1991)
• Is Prison: New Voices in American Poetry. ISBN 0-533-09451-8. (1991)
• Epilogue: American Poetry Anthology Volume X, Number 1. ISBN 0-88147-074-0. (1991)
