Stone Free 1

About Stone Free 1

KICK ASS MUSIC, KICK ASS PEOPLE Stone Free is a Chicago based ORIGINAL band seeking a higher plane in the music world. The band's Classic Rock rooted creations are crafted inside their self owned recording facility which blends "old school" analog tape and tube amplification with modern Pro Tools engineering magic.

At the songwriting helm is Larry McDaniel, a homegrown Chicagoan, born of Southern American immigrants. The McDaniel Family moved from the poor West Side of town to the Lincoln Park area in the early sixties, giving an already singing young Larry a chance at a better education and lots of musical attention. Though he had no formal instruction, he began writing his own songs from the ripe old age of six and a half. It was at this time that the neighborhood and the surrounding areas gave him a decent platform to experiment with many genres, as well as appreciate the myriad of musical influences within the community. At the age of 14, he was introduced to the bass guitar, then the guitar and taught himself to play. From there he started a few rock bands, meeting many influential artists in the Chicagoland area. After a few years on the the back burner, he played many of Chicago's great venues and festivals as well as hosting jam nites at several locations,and a video with Mike Ditka the coach. In retrospect , Stone Free has discovered that Chicago is the center of untapped musical talent.

Rick Cruz held down jobs in numerous recording studios. After college, he worked for Jive Records, obtaining Chief Audio Engineering spots at Battery Studios in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Later on he was on staff at the legendary Streeterville Recording Studios. At one of the peaks in his career, Rick found himself doing sessions with a staggering amount of well known artists. (For a bit more on his engineering career, visit (expired link)
Recently, Rick started Cruz Amplification, where he designs and builds different all tube, hand wired guitar and bass amplifiers. Rick Cruz's amps are currently being used by Cheap Trick, Parliament Funkadelic, John Fogerty, Jim Peterik and The Ides Of March, and The Monkees.

Presently, the group consists of Larry McDaniel on vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards,music production and Rick Cruz on drums, guitars, music production, vocals and studio post production. Roger Jones is credited on bass and vocals for live performances.