DaVante Stone Afternoon Drive Host Weekdays 2:00PM-6:00PM DaVante Stone is very familiar to the WGCI audience as "The Stone Pony." Stone has hosted numerous shows on WGCI 107.5FM. Stone has finally settled into tha favorable slot as Afternoon Drive Host Weekdays 2:00PM-6:00PM
Prior to joining WGCI 107.5FM, Stone worked up and down the radio dial from Kansas City, Missouri to Memphis, Tennessee. Stone holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communications from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee.
It's not rare to be whisked away into the direction of your career by accident. Most don't find their niche until it finds them. So it was fortunate for one Chicago DJ to find his way to the fast pace of broadcast radio via the direction of an associate at college in Jackson Tennessee. Once a major in physical therapy, DaVante Stone, The Stone Pony, went from wearin' white coats to spinnin' black disks. It was a big turn – but a gradual road, and this popular voice and radio personality says he doesn't regret it.
Possessing a wide variety of experience with gospel radio stations, news stations, pop stations, an R&B station in Memphis and a recent stint in Detroit – Stone is happy to be where he is. He thanks his education for a playing a big part in his success, and he urges "…anyone going to school for it to continue to do it," Radio is no longer a job that takes a good voice and an outstanding personality (although he possesses both and it damn sure helps). "I love this business!" he leans back in his chair and sighs in satisfaction, but even more, he's glad to be back home.
When asked why he came back from Detroit so soon Stone admitted to being home sick, and preferred The Windy City over "D-tois" any day. He held on to his apartment, and within a month of Detroit, it was callin' for him. "Nothings compared to Chicago." He says, and as I glance at the amazing view of the lakefront in a huge glass window behind his chair, I can see what he means.
"And you know what? I think R-Kelly should shoot all of his videos in the city! Da Brat… All of them!!" He exclaimed when asked about Chicago artists. "Chicago's got a great skyline…a great market…and to be Chicago, we should be on the same level as New York, and L.A! Look at the talent that comes out of here!"
Well, one things for sure, Stone's definitely got Chi-spirit, and he feels the same pain
and frustration of those individual artists and labels in the city not getting the credit and
play they deserve. "I'm 100% behind playing individual artists on the air," but like many
others, Stone detests the idea that payola, oversized record labels and advertising have such
a strong effect on radio play lists.
He reminisces about some of his guests on his past shows, and after sharing strawberry waffle interests with Aaliyah and letting Erika Badu set the mood for him with candles and inscence, they reign as his two favorite guests. Even with his attraction to the ladies and his love for the nightlife, the Stone Pony says that his new shift won't buck him off the party scene.
The promotion is a great, but he won't give up the club. His normal gigs at the Prop House and Club New won' suffer, but he will be ducking out a bit earlier than usual. "If anything, it'll keep my drinking to a minimum." He laughs and gives an impression of himself on the air drunk- speech slurred and stumbling over the mic.
All, in all Stone is live, and more down to earth than the imagination permits. He has a winning personality and a set of dimples anyone could fall for. He dates, uses the "I'm a GCI DJ" as a pick up line, dreams of doing Syndicated radio, hosting a talk show and the creative freedom that comes with it. Although he stands behind her as a great artist, he to got sick of playing Mary J. Blige.
Interview by: Ibiyinka Aboyade - Cole Ism Sound Network
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