Soul band comes to Topaz

A behind-the-scenes pioneer of the 1970s soul funk explosion, Trey Stone was a key player in the era's dance-funk sound and contributed his talents as a guitarist, keyboard player, vocalist and writer for dozens of hit recordings.

Stone and his Trey Stone Band have two upcoming performances in Douglas County at Topaz Lodge and Casino.

Members of the Trey Stone Band are lead vocalist, guitar and keyboardist Trey Stone, Jon "Eight Track Jones" Belanger on drums, Greg "Willie Dynamite" Nuremburg on bass and background vocals, Billy Gonzales with keyboard and background vocals and Terry Ogg on the Hammond B3 organ with background vocals.

The band has been on many tours and has appeared on film and television. Tours have included Rose Royce; Stargard; The Undisputed Truth; Bootsy's Rubber Band with Maceo Parker; Pfunk Allstars; Dee Lite; George Clinton; and Tower of Power (spring 2006). Movies and TV show appearances that have featured their music have included Soul Train; David Sanborn's Night Music (NBC); "Car Wash" (soundtrack from movie starring Richard Pryor) produced by Norman Whitfield; "Bustin' Loose" (soundtrack from movie starring Richard Pryor) produced by Norman Whitfield; The Tracey Ullman Show (HBO) nominated for a Emmy for theme music; Saturday Night Live with Dee Lite and Rosanne Barr (NBC); Top of the Pops TV Show (BBC).

CDs recorded by the Trey Stone Band include: Stargard "Which Way is up" (soundtrack from movie starring Richard Pryor) produced by Norman Whitfield; Rose Royce "Car Wash" (soundtrack from movie starring Richard Pryor) produced by Norman Whitfield; The Undisputed Truth "Smiling Faces" "You & Me" "Smokin'' (LP on RCA); The Temptations "Sail Away" produced by Norman Whitfield; Willie Hutch "In Tune" produced by Norman Whitfield; Jr. Walker "Sax Attack" (LP on Warner Bros.) produced by Norman Whitfield; Our Gang Funky (LP on MCA) produced by George Clinton; TreyLewd (LP on MCA) produced by George Clinton; Sly Stone "Ain't but the one Thang" produced by Norman Whitfield; Keith Washington; "Kissing You" "Make Time For Love" (LP on Warner Bros./Qwest); Nominated for a Grammy - Bootsy Collins "What's Bootsy Doing?" " Blasters of the Universe" Sony Dee Lite and "Groove is in the Heart" (LP on Sony).

The Trey Stone Band has played in the Valley a couple of times, and are returning 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14 at Topaz Lodge and Casino, 1979 Highway 395, Topaz Lake, 20 miles south of Gardnerville. For more information, call Topaz Lodge at 266-3338.

The band's summer tour for 2006 consisted of performances during Hot August Nights and at the Nugget Rib Cookoff in Sparks, at Cabo Wabo in Stateline, The Beacon in South Lake Tahoe, Harrah's Downtown Plaza Summer Concert series in Reno, the Crystal Bay Club in Incline Village and the Tahoe Music Festival in Tahoe City.

Two group members are local, Nuremburg who is from the Lake Tahoe area and Ogg, originally from the Bay area who moved to Tahoe.