Lee Miles Stone: Memories Are Forever

Regardless of how sincerely this project was undertaken and no matter how much Stone believes in it, Memories Are Forever will never be a commercial success. It should remain what Stone apparently intended it to be: “a family love story.” It was designed as an exercise in nostalgia and should be restricted to his ears only. According to old newspaper clippings sent to JazzTimes, during the Sixties L.M. Stone was active as a singer and drummer, recorded for Decca, ABC/Paramount and Jubilee Records, ran two jazz clubs in his native Memphis and in the ’70s opened another in Nashville. He managed to work into the early ’90s. That’s where the paper trail ends-and apparently that’s when the chops began to fade.

This album reveals a mere shadow of Lee Miles Stone: His range is limited, he can no longer sustain his baritone and the vibrato wobbles precariously. Even though his tunes are dedicated to those he loves, from his wife to his granddaughter, and his sentiments may be heartfelt, his pen is weak, particularly when he tries to add words to Tchaikovsky and Chopin.

Originally Published September 1, 2006