Angie Stone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Angie Stone
Stone in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Angela Laverne Brown
Born	(1961-12-18)December 18, 1961 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	March 1, 2025(2025-03-01) (aged 63) Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul neo soul
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter actress record producer
Instruments	Vocals keyboards
Years active	1979–2025

Angela Laverne Stone (born Brown; December 18, 1961 – March 1, 2025) was an American singer, songwriter, actress, and music producer. She became famous in the late 1970s as part of the hip hop group The Sequence. In the early 1990s, she joined the R&B group Vertical Hold. Later, Stone signed with Arista Records to release her first solo album, Black Diamond (1999). This album was certified gold and included the popular song "No More Rain (In This Cloud)".

After moving to J Records, she released her second album, Mahogany Soul (2001). This album featured the hit song "Wish I Didn't Miss You". She then released Stone Love (2004) and The Art of Love & War (2007). The Art of Love & War became her first album to reach number one on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Stone also started acting in the 2000s. She appeared in her first movie in 2002 and made her stage debut in 2003. She played Big Mama Morton in the Broadway musical Chicago. She also had supporting roles in films and TV shows. These included VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club and TV One's R&B Divas. She also acted in movies like The Fighting Temptations (2003), Pastor Brown (2009), and School Gyrls (2010).

Stone was nominated for three Grammy Awards. She won two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. In 2021, she received the Soul Music Icon Award at the Black Music Honors. In 2024, she sang on Damon Little's "No Stressing," which topped Billboard's Gospel Airplay chart.

Stone passed away in a car accident in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 1, 2025.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Stone was born in Columbia, South Carolina. She started singing gospel music at First Nazareth Baptist Church. Her father was in a local gospel group. He took Stone to see many gospel artists perform.

Career Highlights

Starting with The Sequence (1979–1985)

In the late 1970s, when Stone was 16, she helped form the rap group The Sequence. This was an all-female hip-hop act. The group also included Cheryl "The Pearl" Cook and Gwendolyn "Blondie" Chisolm. They were the second rap group to sign with Sugar Hill Records. They got signed after an audition for manager Sylvia Robinson.

In 1980, The Sequence had a hit song called "Funk You Up". It reached number 15 on the US Top Black Singles chart. The trio had several rap hits. They were known as the first female rap group in early hip hop. Songs like "Monster Jam" and "Funky Sound (Tear The Roof Off)" kept them busy touring. Sylvia Robinson was their mentor. The group eventually broke up in 1985.

Solo Success and Breakthrough (1986–2005)

After The Sequence, Stone worked with the hip hop group Mantronix. She then became the lead singer of the trio Vertical Hold. They released the popular song "Seems You're Much Too Busy." They also released two albums: A Matter of Time (1993) and Head First (1995). In 1996, Stone formed another group called Devox. They recorded one album released in Japan.

Stone also helped write songs for D'Angelo's first two albums, Brown Sugar (1995) and Voodoo (2000). She also sang backup vocals for him on tour. She also provided backing vocals on Lenny Kravitz's album, 5 (1998).

Stone in 1997

In the late 1990s, Clive Davis offered Stone a solo recording contract. In September 1999, her first solo album, Black Diamond, was released. It was named after her daughter, Diamond Ti'ara. The album received good reviews. It reached the top ten on Billboard's US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Black Diamond was certified gold in both the US and the UK. It included the number-one hit "No More Rain (In This Cloud)". This song earned Stone two nominations at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards.

In 2000, Stone moved to J Records. She also recorded the theme song for the TV show Girlfriends. Her second album, Mahogany Soul, was released on October 16, 2001. Stone worked with many musicians on this album, including Alicia Keys and Eve. The album was well-received. It reached number four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Mahogany Soul also earned gold certifications. "Wish I Didn't Miss You" became her biggest international hit. It reached the top ten in Australia and Belgium. It also topped Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. Her duet with singer Joe, "More Than a Woman", earned Stone her first Grammy Award nomination.

In 2002, Stone had a guest role on Girlfriends. The next year, she appeared in the movie The Fighting Temptations. She played Alma alongside Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Beyoncé.

Her third album, Stone Love, came out in June 2004. It debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200. It sold 53,000 copies in its first week. The album's first single was "I Wanna Thank Ya" featuring Snoop Dogg. This song was a top five hit in Belgium. It also became Stone's second number-one hit on the US Dance Club Songs chart. In 2005, Stone released her first greatest hits album, Stone Hits: The Very Best of Angie Stone. After five years, Stone left J Records.

Later Albums and Acting Roles (2006–2025)

Stone performing live at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 11, 2008

In 2006, Stone appeared on the VH1 reality TV show Celebrity Fit Club. She lost eighteen pounds on the show. The same year, Stone signed with Stax Records. Her fourth studio album, The Art of Love & War, was released on October 15, 2007. The album debuted at number eleven on the US Billboard 200. It sold 45,000 copies in its first week. This made it Stone's highest-charting album. It was also her first album to top the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

The lead single, "Baby", was a duet with Betty Wright. It became her second number-one hit on the US Adult R&B Songs chart. It also earned Stone her third Grammy Award nomination.

Stone's fifth album, Unexpected, was released in November 2009. The album's title referred to the sudden death of her father. This album had a slightly different sound, with more upbeat R&B and funk. It reached number 133 on the US Billboard 200. The lead single, "I Ain't Hearin' U", reached number 14 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs. In 2009, Stone had a small role in the movie Pastor Brown. She also sang "Wade in the Water" in the documentary Soundtrack for a Revolution (2009). In 2010, Stone played the head matron in the film School Gyrls.

In May 2011, Stone co-starred in the play Loving Him is Killing Me. In 2012, Stone signed with Saguaro Road Records. She released Rich Girl on September 25, 2012. Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner contributed a spoken-word part to the album. Stone and Brian McKnight toured together in a play called Love Lies. In 2013, Stone appeared on season two of TVOne's R&B Divas. She was a mentor and life coach on the show.

In November 2015, Stone released her seventh album, Dream. The album received good reviews. It debuted at number three on the Top Hip-Hop/R&B Albums chart. The first single, "2 Bad Habits," was a minor hit. Stone then released the cover album Covered in Soul in 2016. This album featured her versions of popular songs by other artists.

In July 2019, Stone released her ninth album, Full Circle. This album included the lead single "Dinosaur". In June 2024, Stone was honored by being inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Angie Stone had two children. Her daughter, Diamond, was born in 1984. Diamond's father is Rodney Stone, also known as Lil' Rodney C! from the hip-hop group Funky Four Plus One. Diamond sang background vocals on Stone's 2007 song "Baby." Diamond had Stone's first grandchild in 2008 and another in 2012.

In the 1990s, Stone had a relationship with neo soul singer D'Angelo. They had a son named Michael D'Angelo Archer II in 1998. Stone lived in Atlanta, Georgia, with her son Michael and daughter Diamond.

In 1999, Stone was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. She joined the F.A.C.E Diabetes program. This program helps African Americans understand and control diabetes. Stone shared that her mother and aunt also had diabetes.

Stone was an honorary member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. She was inducted in July 2024.

Death

Angie Stone died in a car accident in Montgomery, Alabama on March 1, 2025. She and her band members were traveling to Atlanta after a concert. Their van was involved in a collision.

Discography

Studio albums

• Black Diamond (1999)
• Mahogany Soul (2001)
• Stone Love (2004)
• The Art of Love & War (2007)
• Unexpected (2009)
• Rich Girl (2012)
• Dream (2015)
• Covered in Soul (2016)
• Full Circle (2019)
• Love Language (2023)

Filmography

Films

Television

Theatre

Awards and Nominations

Wins

• 2000: Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards: Best R&B/Soul Single, Solo for "No More Rain (In This Cloud)"
• 2000: Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards: Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist, Solo
• 2004: Edison Award for Stone Love

Nominations

• 2003 Grammy Awards: Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "More Than a Woman" (with Joe)
• 2004 Grammy Awards: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "U-Haul"
• 2008 Grammy Awards: Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Baby" (with Betty Wright)
• 2008: BET Awards: BET J Award
• 2008: BET J Virtual Awards: Album of the Year for The Art of Love & War

See Also

In Spanish: Angie Stone para niños

• Honorific nicknames in popular music

Images for kids

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  Angie Stone in 2019

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  Stone in 1997

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  Stone performing live at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 11, 2008